European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                An 18th-Century engraving tells the Story of St. Nicholas and the Hoys rescued from the Butcher. File a brass band and marchers bearing torches Lead St. Nicholas into Nancy s place  explode with Holiday spirit when St Nicholas comes to Tow by a. Kominicki senior is Iff Wriler in one Kikes St. Nil Holas to heart As warmly As the c Iti ens Al Nani a Hal hustling baroque Gem in i in i Orraine Region of northeastern f Ranee. In ten it week pus Etling Llie Saint s traditional i Elt. It teas Day tie Eity det is Itsell out with c Inis Mas bolls and mirrored Halls and t hoi Olate statues of Nicholas Nind the she is of area t and stores i n the Plu e St a Nisi is it nut it loops it if lights lieu up the imposing Treade of the town Hall while Hiis Mas Musk joyous perhaps hut still somehow grating in Trent h is hos through Naniva a varied rues and boulevards. Adding to the pulse ate Pai i it pants in the i Ity s annual Nuis Eular dystrophy fundraiser a a Ted the i lock Jumble of Speed walkers Jotters Volley Allers and baked Gools Sale set to who Pant and puff and press the Puhlin Sti that others May walk. I luring the St. Nicholas Celebration held on tile sunday closest to Doc. 1, residents and visitors line the streets As a two hour Proi session of some 2r> floats sponsored by lot Al t Lubs and Organ a Lions passes by. I he Mart hers interspersed with bands anti it heirs Light their Way Iti the City scentral Square. I hero the party t continues As nit Holas anti the sinister pert roue lard literally lather whip hand out Honey t and to gum i i Hildren and trillion those w to an m it. It t Ulm mates Alt i dark with like works and. This \ ear a last show.  most modern holidays Nancy a St. Nicholas Celebration is a murky mix of tradition and religion that has brewed for centuries with the spices of a dozen cultures. Nicholas after All was actually a i urk and he got no nearer to France than Hari Italy. And that trip took place a at years after his death. Nit Holas the Bishop of Myra in  is now finite Lurkey died in d i4, hut not Holt ire spawning several legends some Call them miracles that led to his canonization. In out1, Nicholas restored life to three boys who had been slaughtered and Pat bed in brine by a mean spirited butt her. Nit Holas asked to see the meal made the sign til the Cross and the Hoys emerged whole and Teeling Quot Well rested Quot at i Outing to a lie telling of the tale. Another Story a a less grisly and with More of a Christmas twist a tells How nit Holas secretly provided hags of Gold Lor the dowries of a poor merchants three daughters. As he tossed the hags into the merchant s window at night one accidentally fell into a stocking that had been Hung by the fire to dry. Hence some believe today s custom of hanging Christmas stockings. Remembered As a protect01 of t Hildren Nicholas was further linked to youngsters and Christmas by the custom ant e widespread in Europe of electing a boy Bishop to Rule Between St. Nit Holas Day and holy innocents Day which was i Oie rated Oil dec. 28. Italian sailors brought Nicholas body to Italy in 1087 and it want enshrined in the 4 stripes Magazine dts Chi her 19, 194