Glittery glory

Last Saturday was the day of our good old man from Demre, south of Turkey, who turned about to be the most beloved man of the children, St Nicholas aka Santa Claus. Dec. 6 is believed to be the day the saint had passed away, and the day is dedicated to commemorate his benevolent being. On the holy day, I happened to be in Alsace, where the Christmas season is exceptionally beautiful and celebrated in magical charm. It felt like it was just the right place to celebrate St Nicholas Day. The oldest Christmas market in Europe was set in Strasbourg in 1570; then called the Christkindlmärik. All the Alsatian towns welcome the Noël, or Weichnacht, in an insanely decorous and joyous way, very traditional and charming, elegantly opulent, but nothing close to the cloyingly sticky "Jingle Bells" style.

This year Strasbourg was awarded the title of "Best Christmas Market in Europe 2014"; and even a short glimpse around the town proves that it has earned this title. Each 11-market sites scattered around the town have an individual charm to them, some dedicated to fine food, some to arts and crafts, all with an Alsatian style. The gigantic tree placed on the Place Kléber sparkles like a jewel, overlooking the light performances right across. The Christmas tree tradition in the town is an age-old one, recorded in a manuscript dated 1605 describing fir trees adorned with decorations in the guildhalls of Strasbourg during the Advent.

St. Nicholas is about giving and generosity. Many European countries have developed their own heroes around the saint, the Dutch Sinterklaas being the most famous; the Swiss folklore has Samichlaus, the Portugese have São Nicolau etc. It is often not known that the Saint was a rejected bishop in ancient Myra, west of Antalya, a town...