Saint Nicholases Visit Coltura

Christmas is around the corner and many children are eagerly anticipating Saint Nick’s arrival tonight. In Bregaglia, the St. Nicks have already arrived. Every 6 December, many Bregaglia villages setup a venue where the Saint Nicholases meet with the town’s children. When my Mom was a child, the St. Nicks made housecalls, traveling from home to home to make sure all the children had a well-behaved year. Misbehaved children might end up with a lump of coal instead of the annual delivery of mandarins and peanuts.

Way back when, the arrival of Santa was a serious matter. My Mom remembers already being afraid of Santa’s visit in the summer. Word had it that misbehaved children were stuffed into Santa’s sack and taken away. My Mom remembers one wintery 6th of December when Santa told the tale of a child who had recently escaped from one of his sacks. There were even stories of children pocketing knives, so they could cut themselves out of the bag, if necessary. However, a well-behaved child was always rewarded with a generous supply of mandarins and peanuts, which Santa spilled out of sack. This was the only time of the year these delicious treats were available.

Santa is based on the real Saint Nicholas, who, in addition to being the patron saint of mariners and children, was also the bishop of Myra (a part of present-day Turkey) during the 4th century. He was revered for his generosity and standing up for his beliefs. Western Europeans celebrate Saint Nicholas day on the 6th of December because it is said that medieval nuns used to go around leaving gifts on people’s doorsteps every 6th December. It is also said that on this same day mariners would sail into harbor and attend church to pay homage to their patron saint, who died on 6 December 346 A.D.

This last  chilly, snowy 6th of December afternoon, three Santas showed up with their donkeys in the small Bregaglia village of Coltura with treats for the village children. Parents served homemade cookies, hot chocolate and coffee for all the Santas, children and guests. Nowadays, the children are no longer as fearful of Santa. Everyone enjoys seeing the children collect their mandarins, peanuts and chocolates.