“It all started with Saint Nicholas”
A very pretty atmosphere at the Preston Road Community Centre on the night of October 15th
when some sixty members of the ADTTS had gathered for their first monthly meeting of the new season;
many of them had just returned from a very successful twinning trip to Abingdon, Virginia.
Stella Carter introduced the guest of the evening: Herman Cole from Sint-Niklaas, a very long time twinning enthusiast,
as he reminded us at the beginning of his talk.
His first contacts with Abingdon and the Vale date back to the Sixties,
when he met Peter Marsh - headmaster of the Saint Nicholas School in Abingdon - who put the first twinning steps
towards the Flemish town of Sint-Niklaas in Belgium.
He also reminded us of his lifelong contacts with Michael Matthews,
honorary citizen of Sint-Niklaas who introduced him into Britishness taking him to Oxford for performances like Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Mikado”.
Special words of friendship were spoken about Joan and Geoff Brighton, now living in Fakenham, of whom he gave us all the kindest regards.
“It all started with Saint Nicholas” was the slightly mysterious title of his speech,
a 200 pictures long PowerPoint presentation in the footsteps of a world famous saint, with a popularity only second to the Virgin Mary.
After take-off with pictures of the saint found in Rome, on Mount Sinai, in Lima, in Troyes, in King’s Lynn, in Amsterdam and … in Abingdon and Oxford,
we were taken on a trip to his home town Sint-Niklaas.
Pictures of the recently refurbished market square and station area,
impressions of the weekly market on Thursdays and the balloon festival in the first weekend of September,
photographs of the twinning quarter including Abingdonstraat, pictures of the villages Belsele, Nieuwkerken, Sinaai.
Special attention was given to the local traditions regarding Saint-Nicholas.
Herman pointed out how between mid-November and December 6th -
Saint-Nicholas Day -,
a stately building in Stationsstraat is transformed into “Het Huis van de Sint” (the Home of the Saint) that last year was visited by
20,000 (!) children.
They shook hands with his small army of Black Peters and sometimes with Sinterklaas himself.
Herman told us about the generosity of Saint Nicholas, bringing gifts to all good (and bad) children in December.
We then were taken some 2.000 km south, to the Italian town of Bari where San Nicola is celebrated every second week of May.
In 2007 and 2008 Herman saw how some 150,000 people from Italy and abroad - pilgrims and tourists alike - travelled to this Mediterranean port
in a mixture of religious faith, devotion, superstition and curiosity.
“Saint-Nicholas builds a bridge between East and West,”
said Vladimir Putin on his official visit to unveil a statue of Saint-Nicholas in front of Bari’s basilica.
The celebration takes place to commemorate how in 1087 the bones of Saint-Nicholas were taken by local seaman from Myra - now Demre in Turkey - to Bari
where a wonderful basilica was built on top of the remains.
We were presented with pictures of the historic pageant that winds from the castle into the harbour.
Flag weavers, knights, seamen, maidens … some 450 people re-enacting the arrival of San Nicola, under clouds of incense.
And then all of a sudden, the lights went on.
During the interval we were offered Guylian’s sea shells.
And there was a good reason: the plant of this well known chocolate specialty sold on airports all over the world is located in … Sint-Niklaas.
The shells were followed by still another fine typical sweet: speculaas.
Our guest had imported from Sint-Niklaas freshly baked biscuits in the shape of the bishop of Myra;
every baker in Flanders sells great quantities of those in November/December.
Mmmmm…agnificent.
Off we went then for more pictures from Bari:
the pilgrims accompanied by the Bari mayor and the rettore of the basilica di San Nicola having their early morning procession to the harbour,
with the great bishop carried on fishermen’s shoulders; the statue of the saint being taken on a fishing boat into the harbour;
the innumerable small rowing and motor boats with people trying to approach the saint as closely as possible;
the “Frecce Tricolori”-team of the Italian Air Force showing their stunts in the blue sky;
the wonderfully lit Piazza del Ferrarese and the spectacular fireworks.
And then – last but not least - the ceremony in the crypt of the basilica with the Holy Manna,
the small quantity of liquid that seeps from the saint’s relics throughout the year - mystery !!! -
and is collected on the evening of May 9th.
After all this, who is not getting ready for a visit in 2009 to Sint-Niklaas or …
Bari?
After an enthusiastic applause,
Stella Carter thanked Herman Cole for this talk and then Michael Matthews reminded the audience of the next ADTTS-meeting …..
A recital with music of the Lucca born composer Giacomo Puccini by Marco Tomei and Silvana Froli at Saint
Nicolas Church.
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Prettige sfeer in het Preston Road Community Centre op de avond van 15 oktober toen een zestigtal leden van de ADTTS bijeen
zaten voor de eerste maandelijkse ontmoeting van het nieuwe seizoen; velen waren maar net terug van een zeer succesvolle verzusteringstrip naar Abingdon,
Virginia. Stella Carter introduceerde de gast van de avond: Herman Cole uit Sint-Niklaas, verzusteringsenthousiasteling van het eerste uur,
zoals hij aan het begin van zijn verhaal onderstreepte. Zijn eerste contacten met Abingdon en de Vale dateren uit de Sixties, toen hij
Peter Marsh -hoofd van de Saint Nicholas School in Abingdon- ontmoette die de eerste verzusteringsstappen naar de Vlaamse stad Sint-Niklaas in België zette.
Hij bracht ook zijn levenslange contacten in herinnering met Michael Matthews, ereburger van Sint-Niklaas die hem binnenvoerde in de Britishness
door hem mee te nemen naar Oxford voor musicals als “The Mikado” van Gilbert & Sullivan.
Speciale woorden van vriendschap had hij voor Joan en Geoff Brighton, nu woonachtig in Fakenham, waarvan hij iedereen de hartelijkste groeten bracht
“It all started with Saint Nicholas” was de lichtjes mysterieuze titel van zijn toespraak,
een 200 beelden lange Powerpoint-presentatie in de voetsporen van een wereldvermaarde heilige,
waarvan de populariteit alleen door de Maagd Maria wordt overtroffen. We gingen van start met beelden van de heilige gevonden in Rome, op de Sinai-berg,
in Lima, in Troyes, in King’s Lynn, in Amsterdam en … in Abingdon en Oxford; daarna ging de reis naar zijn geboortestad Sint-Niklaas.
Beelden van de recent getransformeerde markt en de stationsomgeving, impressies van de wekelijkse markt op donderdag en de ballonfeesten
in het eerste weekend van september, foto’s van de verzusteringswijk inclusief de Abingdonstraat, beelden van de dorpen Belsele, Nieuwkerken, Sinaai.
Speciale aandacht ging naar de plaatselijke tradities omtrent Sint-Niklaas.
Herman vertelde hoe tussen midden November en 6 december -Sinterklaasdag- een statig gebouw wordt omgeturnd tot
het Huis van de Sint dat vorig jaar door 20.000 (!) kinderen werd bezocht.
Ze kwamen er handjes schudden met een legertje Zwartepieten en soms zelfs met Sinterklaas.
Herman vertelde over de gulheid van Sinterklaas, die in December cadeautjes brengt aan alle brave (en stoute) kinderen.
Daarna ging het 2000 km naar het zuiden, naar de Italiaanse stad Bari waar de Heilige Nicolaas elk jaar wordt gevierd in de tweede week van mei.
In 2007 en 2008 zag Herman hoe zo’n 150.000 mensen uit Italië en daarbuiten –pelgrims zowel als toeristen- in die mediterrane haven verzamelen
in een mengsel van geloof, devotie, bijgeloof en nieuwsgierigheid.
“Nicolaas bouwt een brug tussen Oost en West,” zei Vladimir Putin toen hij een standbeeld van de heilige onthulde voor Bari’s basiliek.
De vieringen vinden plaats om te herinneren hoe in 1087 het gebeente van Nicolaas door locale zeelui werd weggehaald uit Myra -nu Demre in Turkije- om
in Bari een prachtige basiliek te bouwen boven zijn gebeente. We kregen beelden te zien van de historische stoet die van het kasteel naar de haven slingert.
Vlaggenzwaaiers, ridders, zeelui, middeleeuwse maagden … zo’n 450 mensen die naspeelden hoe Sint-Niklaas arriveerde, onder wolken van wierook.
En dan opeens floepte het licht aan.. .
Tijdens de pauze proefden we zeevruchten van Guylian.
En niet zonder reden: deze chocoladespecialiteit die je op elke luchthaven vindt, wordt vervaardigd in … Sint-Niklaas.
Op de zeevruchten volgde een andere typische specialiteit: speculaas.
Onze gast had uit Sint-Niklaas vers gebakken koekjes meegebracht in de vorm van de bisschop van Myra; elke bakker in Vlaanderen
bakt er in November/december grote hoeveelheden van. Mmmmm…eesterlijk.
Dan kwam weer meer beelden uit Bari: van pelgrims tijdens hun ochtendlijke processie met de burgemeester van Bari en de rector van de basiliek
van San Nicola op weg naar de haven, met de grote bisschop gedragen op de schouders van vissers;
het beeld van de heilige dat op een vissersboot de haven wordt in gevoerd;
de ontelbare kleine en grote boten waarmee de gelovigen zo dicht mogelijk bij hem willen komen; het “Frecce Tricolori”-team van de Italiaanse Luchtmacht
dat zijn stunts uitvoert in de blauwe lucht; de wonderlijk verlichte Piazza del Ferrarese en spectaculaire vuurwerk.
En dan -last but not least- de ceremonie in de crypte van de basilica met het Heilige Manna, de kleine hoeveelheid vloeistof
die elk jaar –mysterie!- aan de relikwieën van de heilige ontsnapt en op de avond van 9 mei wordt opgevangen.
Wie is er na dit alles niet klaar om in 2009 op stap te gaan naar Sint-Niklaas of … Bari?
Na een enthousiast applaus dankte Stella Carter Herman Cole voor zijn babbel en kondigde Michael Matthews
de volgende ADTTS-ontmoeting aan ….. een recital met muziek van de in Lucca geboren componist Giacomo Puccini door Marco Tomei en Silvana Froli
in de … Saint Nicolas Church.
Atmosfera molto piacevole la sera del 15 ottobre nel Preston Road Community Centre ad Abingdon dove si erano riuniti una sessantina
di soci ADTTS per il primo incontro mensile della nuova stagione;
tanti di loro erano appena reduci da un viaggio di gemellaggio molto interessante a Abingdon, Virginia.
Stella Carter introdusse l’ospite della serata: Herman Cole di Sint-Niklaas, entusiasta di lunga data del gemellaggio,
come lui stesso sottolineó nella sua introduzione.
I suoi primi contatti con Abingdon e la Vale datano degli Anni Sessanta quando conobbe Peter Marsh -direttore della Saint Nicholas School
di Abingdon- che fece i primi passi di gemellaggio verso la città fiamminga di Sint-Niklaas in Belgio.
Ricordò i tanti anni in contatto con Michael Matthews, cittadino onorario di Sint-Niklaas che lo introdusse nella Britishness,
accompagnandolo a Oxford per vedere i musical di Gilbert & Sullivan come “The Mikado”.
Parole di grande amicizia pronunciò per Joan e Geoff Brighton, attualmente residenti a Fakenham, dei quali portò a tutti i migliori saluti.
“It all started with Saint Nicholas” era il titolo leggermente misterioso della sua conferenza,
una presentazione Powerpoint di 200 immagini sulle tracce di un santo mondialmente famoso, con una popolarità superata soltanto dalla Vergine Maria.
Dopo le prime immagini del santo trovate a Roma, sul Monte Sinai, a Lima, a Troyes, a King’s Lynn, ad Amsterdam e … ad Abingdon e Oxford,
partimmo verso la città natale di Herman Sint-Niklaas.
Immagini della piazza e dei dintorni della stazione ferroviaria appena rifatti,
impressioni del mercato settimanale del giovedì e della festa delle mongolfiere nel primo weekend di Settembre,
fotografie del quartiere di gemellagio includendo la ... Abingdonstraat, immagini dei villaggi Belsele, Nieuwkerken, Sinaai.
Attenzione particolare diede alle tradizioni locali intorno a San Nicola.
Herman spiegó come tra metà novembre ed il 6 dicembre -Festa di San Nicola-, un edificio impressionante nella Stationsstraat
si veste da “Huis van de Sint” (la Casa del Santo) che l’anno scorso vide entrare 20.000 (!) bambini.
Strinsero la mano di un piccolo esercito di zwartepieten, i servitori neri del santo e delle volte anche del santo stesso.
Herman raccontó della generosità di San Nicola che in dicembre porta dei doni ai bambini buoni (e anche cattivi).
Si fece poi un salto di 2000 km per arrivare nella città di Bari, dove San Nicola viene celebrato ogni seconda settimana di maggio. Nel 2007 e 2008,
Herman ha potuto vedere come qualche 150.000 persone -tra italiani e stranieri, tra pellegrini e turisti- si erano spostati in quel porto del Mediterraneo;
un misto di fede, devozione, superstizione e curiosità.
“San Nicola costruisce un ponte tra l’Oriente e l’Occidente,” disse un giorno Vladimir Putin in occasione dell’inaugurazione davanti alla basilica
di una statua del santo.
Le celebrazioni si svolgono per commemorare come nel 1087 una sessantina di marinai locali portarono via le ossa di
San Nicola da Myra –ora Demre in Turchia- per costruirci sopra a Bari una basilica meravigliosa.
Ci furono immagini del corteo storico che dal castello attraverso la città vecchia si snoda fino al porto.
Sbandieratori, cavalieri, marinai, vergini medievali ... qualche 450 persone rappresentano l’arrivo di San Nicola, avvolto in nuvole di incenso.
E poi all’improvviso si accesero le luci.
Durante l’intervallo vennero offerti dei frutti di mare Guylian.
E c’era veramente una buona ragione: la fabbrica dove vengono prodotte queste specialità che si vendono in ogni aeroporto del mondo,
si trova a .... Sint-Niklaas. Dopo i cavallucci di cioccolato venne offerto un altro dolce tipico: speculaas.
Herman Cole aveva importato da Sint-Niklaas dei biscotti appena sfornati nella forma del vescovo di Myra;
ogni pasticceria delle Fiandre li produce in grande quantità in Novembre/Dicembre. Mmmmm…eraviglioso.
Vennero poi altre immagini di Bari: i pellegrini accompagnati dal sindaco di Bari e dal rettore della basilica di San Nicola
durante la processione del mattino verso il porto, in cui il grande vescovo viene portato sulle spalle dei marinai;
la partenza della statua del santo su un peschereccio verso il cuore del porto;
le innumerevoli barche che cercano di avvicinarcisi il più possibile; le Frecce Tricolori dell’Aeronautica con le loro acrobazie nel cielo azzurro;
la Piazza del Ferrarese illuminata come una favola ed i fuochi d’artificio spettacolari.
E poi -last but not least- nella cripta della basilica la cerimonia della Santa Manna,
quella piccola quantità di liquido che ogni anno trasuda dalle ossa del santo -mistero!!!- e che viene captata la sera del 9 maggio.
Dopo tutto questo, chi no si sta preparando per spostarsi nel 2009 a Sint-Niklaas o … Bari?
Dopo applausi entusiastici, Stella Carter ringraziò Herman Cole per la sua chiacchierata
e poi Michael Matthews annunciò la prossima riunione del ADTTS ….. il concerto con musiche pucciniane presentato da Marco Tomei e Silvana Froli
presso la ....Saint Nicolas Church.
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