Saint Nicolas, Patron des écoliers
Rudy Welvaert wrote, "In the French speaking part of Belgium, La Wallonie (Wallonia), the children are waiting for Saint Nicolas to bring them sweets and presents in the night of the 5th to the 6th of December. Here is a traditional Saint-Nicolas song in French."
Saint Nicolas, Patron des écoliers
St. Nicolas, Patron Saint of School Kids
Chanson de la Saint Nicolas
St. Nicholas Day Song
(French)
(English)
Saint Nicolas, patron des écoliers,
Apportez-moi du sucre dans mon petit panier.
Je serai toujours sage comme un petit mouton,
Je dirai mes prières pour avoir des bonbons.
Venez, venez Saint Nicolas!
Venez, venez Saint Nicolas!
Venez!
Venez Saint Nicolas!
Tralala!
Saint Nicolas, patron saint of school kids,
Bring me some sugar for my basket.
I'll will always be good like a little lamb,
I always say my prayers, to get sweets.
Come, come Saint Nicolas!
Come, come Saint Nicolas!
Come!
Come Saint Nicolas!
Tralala!
Notes
Sung to the tune to "La Mère Michel"
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Myriam Meunier wrote: "I just wanted to post to you a little note about the St Nicolas song. I'm Belgian and have grown up singing the song every year. I, however recalled the second line of the french version to be a little different. I remember singing "Apporte-moi du sucre dans mes petit souliers.' instead of 'Apporte-moi du sucre dans mon petit panier.' The difference is in the word 'souliers' which means shoes. It makes more sense to me as the Dutch version sings of receiving something 'in my little shoes' and that the tradition is to leave your shoes, not your basket, on the stairs for Saint Nicolas to fill."
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Lisa Hadley wrote:
"I grew up in Belgium at the American Army Base. S.H.A.P.E. Belgium. I remember as a child singing St. Nicolas, Patron des écoliers. He picked me to help pass out the candy canes and chocolates. I have been trying to get the words, I only remember the Venez, venez Saint Nicolas, Venez Saint Nicolas, Venez, Venez Saint Nicolas Tralala. Since 1985, I have been trying to find the words. Thank you for this site, I have a bit of learning to teach my children this tradition. I still put out my shoes and he still comes to fill them. I tell my children if you believe he will come. I teach them all the traditions from Belgium, and Germany too.
Thank you."
Lisa Hadley
*****
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Rudy Welvaert for contributing and translating this song and Myriam Meunier for such a useful commentary.
The illustration is from Nursery Rhymes of Belgium, France and Russia (1917) by L. Edna Walter, illustrated by M. Alfred Bastien.
Merci beaucoup!
