St Nicholas Day celebrations set for Canterbury

St Nicholas will arrive in Canterbury on Saturday 6 December, beginning with a parade and procession at 1pm from Westgate through the High Street with music by Big Bash Music.

St Nicholas, the ‘true’ Father Christmas and Santa Claus, will make his way through the city in a parade organised by the Canterbury City Management Ltd. The saint will arrive at Canterbury Cathedral at 2.30pm for a programme that includes music by the Cathedral Choristers directed by Dr David Flood. Admission to the cathedral is free from 2pm. Children and adults may greet St Nicholas at the Cathedral shop from 3pm.

This is the 3rd annual celebration and record crowds are expected including coach tours and school groups.

This year's charity is to be Demelza House, a hospice for children in Kent. The SNS is pleased to announce that Mrs Jane Williams, who will celebrate her first Christmas with her husband Archbishop Rowan and their children in Canterbury, is the patron of the St Nicholas Celebration Day.

In the evening the cathedral will be the venue for a classic seasonal music programme for St Nicholas Day by the Cantuar Singers and Orchestra including Part One of the Christmas Oratorio of J S Bach and a new work by Matthew Martin, with text by Dean Robert Willis, to honour the saint of the day. Tickets will be from £10 for unreserved seats. Early purchase is advised as quire seating is limited.

An exhibition of images of St Nicholas will be on display in the cathedral from 19 November - 15 December during regular visiting hours. It is a rare collection which was, until recently, housed in Old Palace, owned by Canon James Rosenthal of the St Nicholas Society.

St Nicholas will also appear in Sloane Square, London, on 10 December at 5pm.

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