Silent film footage captures a single day during World War II that has become a Christmas tradition.
In December of 1944, American soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division were stationed in the village of Wiltz, Luxembourg. Two members of the Signal Corps, knowing they wouldn't be home for Christmas, decided that the next best thing would be to celebrate the holidays in Wiltz. With gifts and treats donated by soldiers from the 28th, they gave the town's children a full-blown St. Nicolas Day party on December 6th, complete with a visit from the beloved Saint (Signal Corpsman Richard Brookins dressed in cleric's vestments and a bishop's miter). After the war, many of the participants put aside the memories of that day along with the horrors of the war but the people of Wiltz never forgot.
Every year, they observe December 6 as both St. Nicolas Day and the anniversary of the visit from the American St. Nick with one of the locals recreating the part of the American Signal Corpsman.
Through a series of chance turns-of-events, the first American St. Nicolas is tracked down and over thirty years later, he returns to Wiltz on St. Nicolas Day. This year after many visits to Wiltz, Richard Brookins will make his final appearance as St. Nicolas.
The complete story is told in Peter Lion's book "The American St. Nick" published by WindRiver Publishing.
Happy St. Nick's Day!
In December of 1944, American soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division were stationed in the village of Wiltz, Luxembourg. Two members of the Signal Corps, knowing they wouldn't be home for Christmas, decided that the next best thing would be to celebrate the holidays in Wiltz. With gifts and treats donated by soldiers from the 28th, they gave the town's children a full-blown St. Nicolas Day party on December 6th, complete with a visit from the beloved Saint (Signal Corpsman Richard Brookins dressed in cleric's vestments and a bishop's miter). After the war, many of the participants put aside the memories of that day along with the horrors of the war but the people of Wiltz never forgot.
Every year, they observe December 6 as both St. Nicolas Day and the anniversary of the visit from the American St. Nick with one of the locals recreating the part of the American Signal Corpsman.
Through a series of chance turns-of-events, the first American St. Nicolas is tracked down and over thirty years later, he returns to Wiltz on St. Nicolas Day. This year after many visits to Wiltz, Richard Brookins will make his final appearance as St. Nicolas.
The complete story is told in Peter Lion's book "The American St. Nick" published by WindRiver Publishing.
Happy St. Nick's Day!
