As December approaches, the towns and villages of Alsace are decked out in their most beautiful decorations and lights.
Celebrated on 6 December, Saint Nicholas' Day is a particularly popular tradition in Alsace. According to the legend, Saint Nicholas travels from house to house on a donkey accompanied by the bogeyman ? If Father Whip threatens the children who have not been good, Saint Nicholas rewards them with delicacies such as oranges and gingerbread.
The Christmas tree is a widespread tradition in France. But did you know that it was in Selestat that the "first written mention of the Christmas tree" was found? In 1521, the town of Selestat, located 30 minutes from 6717, entered in its account book the authorisation for the inhabitants of the town to take a tree free of charge in order to decorate it. At the time, Christmas trees were not displayed in our living room, they were hung from the ceiling to prevent the natural gourmet decorations that adorned them from being nibbled away.