Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
In the year 1098, a Lorraine man named Aubert de Varangéville stayed in Bari, Italy, where the body of Saint Nicholas had recently been brought back from Myre by Italian sailors to prevent his body being desecrated by the Turks who had conquered the area around Myre. The body is placed in a tomb (in which it still remains, by the way). It is from this tomb that the Sire de Varangéville steals a "phalanx of the blessing dexter" of Saint Nicolas. Once in the village of Port, close to Aubert de Varangéville's fief, the relic of Saint Nicolas became famous and the object of a pilgrimage that led to the construction of a church in the village of Port, which became Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. This church became an important place of pilgrimage. Joan of Arc, in particular, came here to pray before leaving Lorraine and heading for Chinon to meet Charles VII;
The Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari, where the body of Saint Nicholas lies. This is where Aubert de Varangéville took the phalanx. In Bari, too, a procession takes place every year to celebrate the arrival of Saint Nicholas... By boat, since his body arrived on a ship belonging to Italian merchants who had gone to pick him up in what is now Turkey. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: MeloDphoto via depositphotos.
The Sire of Rechicourt
Later, another Lorrain, Cunon de Linange, sire de Rechicourt is taken prisoner by the Turks during the VI Crusade around the year 1240. Locked in a gaol and on the eve of execution, he prays to Saint Nicolas to deliver him. In his sleep, he is transported in front of the church of Saint Nicolas de port, in front of which he wakes up, his undone chains lying at his feet. To thank Saint Nicolas, Cunon de Linange vowed that a procession would take place every year on December 6 to thank Saint Nicolas. This procession still exists today. It's the major religious event in Lorraine, and thousands of people gather with candles around the relics of Saint Nicolas (the famous phalanx) in the Basilica of Saint-Nicolas-De-Port to pray to Saint Nicolas with a song whose lyrics are: "Saint Nicolas, your credit from age to age, has rained down your sovereign benefits. Come, cover again with your sweet patronage, your old friends the children of the Lorrains."
René II and the battle of Nancy
The Battle of Nancy painted by Delacroix in 1831. Illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance: musée des beaux-arts de Nancy.
In 1477, René II duc de Lorraine et de Bar is preparing for battle against Charles le Téméraire, duke of Burgundy, who is laying siege to Nancy, capital of the duchy of Lorraine. Charles le Téméraire is one of the greatest military leaders of his time, and has a very large army, which leaves René II little chance. On the eve of the battle, January 4, 1477, René II stops at the church of Saint Nicolas and vows to consecrate Lorraine to Saint Nicolas if he wins the battle. The following day, January 5, 1477, at the Battle of Nancy, Charles the Bold was defeated and killed, and his army defeated. Keeping his word, René II, victorious, decided to demolish the old church and had the present-day basilica of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port erected. Over time, Saint Nicolas became Patron Saint of the Dukes of Lorraine, and then of Lorraine as a whole;
The basilica of Saint Nicolas de Port in Lorraine. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com:By Antoine Taveneaux - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237272
Other miracles in Lorraine
Chronicle tells us that as the Swedes ravaged the town on November 5, 1635, and almost all the inhabitants were massacred, a pillar of the basilica is said to have opened to shelter and protect one of the sanctuary's priests. Much more recently, Camille Croué-Friedman, a native of Port who had made her fortune in America, was on a cruise when the sea became rough. As the ship appeared to be starting to sink,Camille Croué-Friedman, remembering that Saint Nicolas was the patron saint of sailors, prayed to Saint Nicolas to save the ship. The storm subsided and Madame Croué Friedman kept her word in 1981 by bequeathing part of her fortune ($1,000,000) for the upkeep and safeguarding of the Saint Nicolas sanctuary in Lorraine.
An ancient tradition that's still going strong
St. Nicholas has a special place in the hearts of the people of Lorraine, and has done for a long time. We don't really know when this tradition of giving gifts to Saint Nicholas was born. What is certain is that it's a very important family holiday in Lorraine, and people from Lorraine easily return to their home region on this day. Children are given sweets, and sometimes small gifts, and until recently it was the only time for gifts before Christmas finally came around. The best proof of the age of the tradition is a rather moving painting that can be seen in Vienna. On this painting, by Marie Christine de Habsbourg-Lorraine, we can see François de Lorraine, born in Lunéville and husband of Marie Thérèse of Austria, on a St. Nicholas morning, with his children unwrapping their presents. Among them, is little Marie-Antoinette, as a child, playing with a doll.
Engraving inspired by Marie Christine de Habsbourg-Lorraine's drawings of her family on Saint Nicholas Day. Illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: Marie Antoinette's boudoir.
In any case, it's impossible not to experience Saint Nicholas Day when you're from Lorraine. Between the parades and the little gifts, it's a day for family and childhood memories, and it's very dear to the hearts of the people of Lorraine!
