Liturgy, Songs, and Carols for the Feast of St. Nicholas
Sun, Nov 16
|Rochester
Learn about the origin story of jolly old St. Nicholas through medieval songs, devotionals, carols, and short stories from before he got his red suit and sleigh.
Time & Location
Nov 16, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Rochester, 25 Westminster Rd, Rochester, NY 14607, USA
About the Event
We know that Santa Claus, sometimes known as St. Nicholas, delivers gifts on the night before Christmas. But who was this mysterious saint, and how was he known to people in medieval Europe? Back then, Christmas was a solemn feast that honored the Christ child, while St. Nicholas’s feast day, December 6th, was much more the jolly, gift-giving event of the Advent season.
This concert presents music that spans from liturgical chant to informal songs, showcasing that people of all stations in life made merry in honor of St. Nicholas. Music associated with St. Nicholas is tuneful, jubilant, and full of references to the stories and miracles surrounding his life. We will feature some texts that have different melodies associated with them, attesting to the popularity of these stories and the way they transmitted across Europe.
We’ll round out the concert with a few favorite tunes from Advent…