About the St Nicholas Society

Founded in 2000, the English Speaking St Nicholas Society is a sister organisation

to the Sint Niklaas Genootschap, headquartered in Flemish Belgium.  Another

branch exists in the Netherlands.

It is the goal of the society to increase interest, learning, and appreciation of the tradition of St Nicholas, Patron saint of children, pawnbrokers and sailors, as the

gift-giver, and the true and only Santa Claus/Father Christmas.

The society is not opposed to celebrations, gift-giving or other holiday activities,

but it does encourage a sanity in the amount of gifts bought and exchanged as

well as allowing Christmas to remain a day of Christian celebration. There is no

need for the secularised Santa Claus/Father Christmas when St Nicholas, who was born in 260 AD and died December 6, 343 AD, provides a perfect model for care

and gift giving. Santa is a commercial invention. St Nicholas is a servant of Christ

and an example for us all to enjoy and emulate.

The society believes that St Nicholas helps young and old see what the true spirit

of Advent and Christmas can be for us all, especially for those who find the holidays very stressful.

It is the society's hope that Jolly Old St Nicholas will become, once again, in English speaking parts of the world, a focus of celebration in his true identity. The December 6 festival can provide a good chance for a less hectic approach to December 25.

Support & Membership

We need support in sponsoring annual festivals, and in communicating our important and timely work.

There are some that believe it will not be long before the true Christmas story will be foreign to the children. This celebration is one, not the only, way to encourage the young in their faith and in appreciation of customs of the past, brought to life in our time. Christians must reclaim CHRIST-MASS, reclaiming St Nicholas is one way of making that happen in today's world.