The Feast of St Nicholas

Time for a feast!

Today is St. Nicholas' Day. It is a Christian festival with particular regard for Saint Nicholas' reputation as a bringer of gifts, as well as through the attendance of church services. In many countries, it has specific local traditions, but today we will explore the ones from the Netherlands with this interesting painting by Jan Steen. In the Netherlands, it has remained a time-honored tradition for centuries. Well-behaved children are rewarded with gifts bestowed by the benevolent saint. As this painting depicts, the young girl in the foreground joyfully displays her bucket filled with treats. Conversely, mischievous children, such as the distressed boy to the left, find nothing but a switch (a bundle of twigs) in their shoes.

Jan Steen, a natural-born storyteller, masterfully captures the essence of this beloved holiday in his artwork. He skillfully weaves together all the elements of this popular celebration within this image.

P.S. The story of St. Nicholas and the tradition surrounding his name day gave rise to Santa Claus! Enjoy the surprising story of how the modern image of Santa Clause was born. And for more Santa-related art stories see the articles below!