About 20 children from families of the Luxembourg community and representatives of Luxembourg companies gathered Saturday for Saint Nicolas Day in a clubhouse in Shanghai. It was the first time that the Luxembourg Consulate General in Shanghai has organized such an activity.

The Consul General of Luxembourg in Shanghai, Luc Decker, told the Global Times that both Saint Nicolas Day and Christmas are celebrated in his home country. "But Saint Nicolas Day is more a festival for children when they will be given gifts while Christmas is more for family reunion," he said.

The Consul General told the legend of Saint Nicolas to children who showed up at the event. A popular version of the story has it that Saint Nicolas first rose to fame in France, where three children were wandering around lost. They were cold and hungry. An evil butcher appeared and lured the children into his shop, where he intended to kill them and turn them into sausages. Saint Nicolas eventually saved these children and helped them return to their families. This earned Saint Nicolas the reputation as the protector of children.

"It was actually Saint Nicolas who inspired Santa Claus," Decker said.

Saint Nicolas's appearance shares similarities with Santa Claus's appearance. They both wear red coats and have thick white beards. More importantly, they both show up with gifts.

At Saturday's event, when Saint Nicolas, dressed in a long velvety coat and white gloves and holding a golden stick, showed up, children and their families got excited. They surrounded Saint Nicolas, who later gave gifts to every child there.

The gathering was the third this year for the Luxembourg community following the Luxembourg National Day celebration and a barbecue held at the Consul General's residence.

As a member of the community, Decker said such occasions are personally important to him. "The Luxembourg community is a small one. So I think it can really be like a big family," he said. "And I want to open it up to representatives of Luxembourg businesses, which have strong links with my country. I'd love to build a strong community feeling among all these people."

This year, the Luxembourg consulate in Shanghai brought Saint Nicolas to a local migrant children's school for the first time. Decker said it's good to do charity work on the occasion and in the spirit of Saint Nicolas to help these kids, especially given that they are in need. He also shared the story of Saint Nicolas with these children, hoping that they would remember something special about Luxembourg and Saint Nicolas.

Alexandra Bru, Decker's wife, was also behind the idea to take Saint Nicolas to the migrant children's school. She told the Global Times that the company she had been working with has been giving English and French lessons to students at this school. And given that every year around this time people want to share and give, she thought it was important to inspire members of the Luxembourg community to make this move.

"People have been very happy to donate, whether it's toys, money or paintings," she said.

About 30 children between 3 and 6 years old at the migrant children's school in Minhang district received the gifts donated by the Luxembourg community in Shanghai. Even though the religious background of Saint Nicolas is probably far beyond their understanding, they were intrigued by his origin story. They also danced and sang to thank Saint Nicolas for bringing the gifts.

The Consul General of Luxembourg in Shanghai, Luc Decker, explains to children about the origin of Saint Nicolas Day Saturday.

Children paint, take a photo with Saint Nicolas and play foosball. Photos: Ni Dandan/GT

The Luxembourg consulate in Shanghai brings Saint Nicolas and gifts to a migrant children's school in Minhang district. Photo: Courtesy of the Luxembourg consulate