Links to St. Nicholas Societies & Organizations

  • Centro Studi Nicolaiani

    Center for Nicholas Studies
    Bari, Italy
    SITE IN ITALIAN, ENGLISH & RUSSIAN

    This institute in Bari, Italy, the home of St. Nicholas' tomb, carries out academic research and publication regarding St. Nicholas. It is part of the Domenican monastery at the Basilica di San Nicola.

  • Confraternity of St. Nicholas

    Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
    Wheeling, West Virginian, USA
    ENGLISH LANGUAGE SITE

    The Confraternity encourages prayer and fasting for the protection of all children. Though under the approval of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, registration is open to all Catholics, Others are encouraged to follow the confraternity obligations.

  • Order of St. Nicholas

    Eparchy of Newton, Melkite Greek Catholic Church
    West Roxbury, Massachusetts
    ENGLISH LANGUAGE SITE

    Founded in 1991, the order's members exhibit Christian stewardship; promote the interests and welfare of the sick and needy; contribute time, talent and treasure to approved Diocesan agencies to promote the welfare of the unfortunate; and advance and promote existing projects and help create new ones devoted to helping the Melkite Eparchy in meeting its spiritual, temporal and humanitarian needs.

  • Nikolaus Aktion

    Malteaser
    Order of Malta

    Cologne, Germany
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    The Malteaser Nikolaus Aktion sponsors 170 operations with 2200 volunteers serving the elderly, lonely and those in need.

  • Chlausengesellschaft

    Nicholas Organization
    Menzingen, Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

  • Sankt Niklausengesellschaft

    St. Claus Men's club
    Küssnacht am Rigi, Switzerland
    SITE IN GERMAN, ENGLISH, FRENCH & ITALIAN

    The club consists of over 1600 men who are responsible for the yearly parade. Club members charitable giving supports needy children and older people in the village.

  • St. Niklaus-Gruppe Wil

    St. Nicholas Group Wil
    Wil, Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    The group provides hundreds of St. Nicholas visits to homes, schools and churches in seven towns.

  • St. Nikolausgesellschaft der Stadt Zürich

    St. Nicolas-Association of Zurich/Switzerland
    Zürich, Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Founded in 1947, 100 Nicholases and Schmutzlis, together with many other volunteers and supporters carry on extensive charitable activity in the name of St. Nicholas of Myra. Over 20,000 gingerbreads are distributed at the annual parade and about 1200 visits are made. It is giving and loving without asking who or why. Their work extends throughout Switzerland and beyond, providing financial help and other assistance year around.

  • Schweizer Chlausenverzeichnis

    Swiss Saint Nicholas Society Sites
    Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Links to Saint Nicholas organizations in every part of Switzerland.

  • Sint-Nicolaasgenootschap Vlaanderen

    Saint-Nicholas Society Flanders
    Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
    FLEMISH LANGUAGE SITE

    The first of the St. Nicholas societies, it encourages initiatives centered on Saint Nicholas and the legends and popular customs surrounding him. The society's primary object is to study, preserve and restore the figure and customs of Saint Nicholas in Flanders and in the town of Sint-Niklaas in particular. It provides training for those wishing to be Sinterklaas—by providing background on the saint, how to talk with children, and information on managing the costume.

  • St. Niklausvereinigung

    St. Nicholas Association
    Buchs / Grabs, Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    The association has around 70 members who provide 200 home visits during the four days before St Nicholas Day. They provide training for new Niklausen and the town celebration ends with songs and stories in the church.

  • Knights of St. Nicholas

    Crescent City, Illinois, USA
    ENGLISH LANGUAGE SITE

    Professional Santas whose core values are fidelity, charity, and service, following in the footsteps of St. Nicholas. Knights are recognized for knowledge of St. Nicholas and for following a code of conduct and ethics.

  • Bündnis Nikolaus komm in unser Haus

    Alliance: Nicholas, come into our house
    Cologne, Germany
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Alliance formed by organizations and groups to 1) help families and children know who St. Nicholas is, 2) take the message to the larger public, and 3) support fair trade and equitable distribution of wealth.

  • Nikolausaktion der Diözese Rottenburg-Stuttgart

    Nicholas Initiative of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart
    Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Initiative to restore Bishop St. Nicholas in Germany; chocolate bishops, stickers and posters are made available for group distribution.

  • Vorfahrt für den Nikolaus

    Priority for Nicholas
    Diocese of Speyer & Trier
    Speyer, Germany
    Trier, Germany

    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Organized under the auspices of the diocese, all day care centers, classrooms and other groups are invited to take a stand against excessive consumption. Resources are provided to assist groups with activities.

  • Stitchting Vrienden van Sinterklaas

    Nieuw-Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    DUTCH LANGUAGE SITE

    The foundation aims to preserve Sinterklaas heritage.

  • St. Niklaus-Komitee Kägiswil

    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    The organization began in 1961, growing out of the local parish. It coordinates all events related to St. Nicholas—procession, home, hospital, care center visits and more

  • Grupp ta’ l-Armar 6 ta’ Dicembru Siggiewi

    Siggiewi, Malta
    MALTESE LANGUAGE SITE

    Site for the group responsible for the December festival street decorations. The site has photos of many aspects of the festival.

  • Sint Nicolaasgenootschap Nederland

    Saint Nicholas Society, the Netherlands
    Veldhoven, The Netherlands
    DUTCH LANGUAGE SITE

    Sister society to the Flanders group, it pursues similar purposes, including training resources for Sinterklasses. Site is in Dutch, but still of interest to those who don't read Dutch.

  • St. Nicholas Society ~ English Speaking

    Canterbury, England

    This society, like those on the Continent, works to increase interest, learning, and appreciation of the tradition of St Nicholas, especially in England.

  • St. Nicholas Center

    Holland, Michigan USA
    ENGLISH LANGUAGE SITE

    Comprehensive website with information and complete resources for families, churches and schools—really, everything about St. Nicholas. A museum-quality exhibit will be have a permanent home in the St. Nicholas Faith & Justice Center at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia. VTS will also host the website as part of their Life-Long Learning Center.

  • Confrérie Saint-Nicolas de Yutz

    Brotherhood of Saint-Nicolas of Yutz
    Yutz, Lorraine, France
    FRENCH LANGUAGE SITE

    Founded in 1650 as an aid association, now no longer giving loans, the organization continues its charitable tradition. The group organizes the annual Saint-Nicolas procession, holds a children's procession to transmit heritage, and proceeds from the St-Nicolas market stall are given to charity.

  • St. Nikolaus Wohlen

    Wohlen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Founded in 1941, the organization provides training for Nikolaus and Schmutzli and schedules over 200 family visits in Wohlen and Anglikon

  • Chlausezunft

    Egerkingen, Switzerland
    GERMAN LANGUAGE SITE

    Formed in 1998 to take responsibility for the St Nicholas tradition and customs in Egerkingen. The group organizes the St. Nicholas festival and more.

Four St Nicholas organization presidents
AN INTERNATIONAL ST. NICHOLAS GATHERING:
Jim Rosenthal, St Nicholas Society UK/USA;
Guus Smits, Sint Nicolaasgenootschap Nederland;
Carol Myers, St. Nicholas Center, USA;
Lieven Dehandschutter, Sint-Nicolaasgenootschap Vlaanderen, Belgium,
meet together at an SNG-Vlaaderen reception in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, December 2003
Photo: Jan Wasmus