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Big St. Nicholas meeting in Missen-Wilhams: light and hope for everyone!
Experience the 13th St. Nicholas meeting in Missen-Wilhams on November 28, 2025, with a parade, market and church service to promote charity.
Big St. Nicholas meeting in Missen-Wilhams: light and hope for everyone!
A real highlight for young and old will be celebrated in Missen-Wilhams in Oberallgäu on Friday, November 28th: the **international St. Nicholas meeting**, which is taking place for the 13th time this year. Franz Horn, the initiator of the meeting, has decided to revive the old children's custom and focus on St. Nicholas' original message: light, hope and charity. However, he is critical of the increasing commercialization of Santa Claus.
The event begins at 4:30 p.m. with a **small Bärbele market** in the spa garden, where delicacies and handicrafts are presented. St. Nicholas himself will visit the market at 6:00 p.m. with an angel, Knecht Ruprecht and a donkey, before the big parade of around 50 St. Nicholas actors starts at 6:45 p.m., accompanied by a music band and happy children with lanterns. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a festive **sending service** in the parish church of St. Martin, followed by a sociable conclusion.
The roots of Santa Claus
But who actually is this Santa Claus? Saint Nicholas of Myra was born between 270 and 286 AD and is known for his charitable actions. Instead of large gifts, he relied on subtle help: He is said to have supported poor families by anonymously placing gold on their window sills to protect daughters from prostitution. He is known to most as a martyr and good spirit, revered over the centuries not only as the patron of children, but also of sailors, merchants and many other groups. Legend has it that his acts of kindness and miracles, such as rescuing soldiers and calming storms at sea, earned him the nickname “Nicholas the Wonderworker.”
Nicholas lived in the ancient city of Patara in the 4th century and was able to make a significant journey to Myra, where he eventually became a bishop. Even with historical sources there is no complete agreement about his life; Many legends arose about him, from his miracles to his participation in the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
Diverse traditions
The figure of Santa Claus has taken on different forms over the centuries. And while his legends remain alive in many parts of the world, he also developed into the Santa Claus we know today. This role of gift-bringer has become particularly solidified in the United States, where ancient European customs have merged with local stories. In fact, the tradition of Santa Claus also came to America with the Dutch settlers, who called him Sinterklaas, a form of the name that ultimately became Santa Claus.
St. Nicholas, as we know him, is often depicted as an elderly bishop, often with three bags of money as a symbol of his willingness to help. There are even reports of the miraculous properties of his relics, called the “Manna of St. Nicholas,” which are venerated in many churches. Its remains, originally in Myra, were taken by merchants to Bari, Italy, in 1087, where the Basilica di San Nicola now stands.
The St. Nicholas meeting in Missen is not just a celebration in a small Allgäu village, but also part of a long tradition that carries the values of St. Nicholas into today. The festival not only preserves a piece of culture, but also shares community and joy - something that will resonate for a long time.
A special highlight is the documentary by BR television, which will record the meeting so that others can also experience the joy and spirit of this special night. Be there and celebrate with us!