Before I get to the Iceland trip, I’ve got a few photos of some Christmas events in Hellemmes, Lille and Bruges.

Hellemmes welcomes Saint Nicolas

At the end of November, I saw Sinterklaas arriving in Antwerpen on a steam boat. Early December (the 5th to be exact), Saint Nicolas arrived in Hellemmes to much fanfare. December 6 is Saint Nicolas’s day, and like their Flemish neighbours to the north, those in Nord celebrate the saint himself as a seperate holiday, as opposed to the Coke-Cola Santa which, we in English speaking countries, consider part of the Christmas celebrations.

In Nord-Pas-de-Calais, it turns out that Saint Nicolas abseils down mairies:

Mairie of Hellemmes (Town Hall).

Mairie with fake snow and spotlights searching for Saint Nicolas.

There he is!

Halfway down.

I was supposed to go see Saint Nicolas abseil down the Arras belfry the following night, but slacked out – I really just wanted to stay in bed!

Confectionary stands and rides appeared all over Lille. These are outside the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) in Hellemmes.

In France, and Belgium, community areas were suddenly filled overnight with confectionary stands and amusements. I meant to get stuck into a Nutella crepe but never got around to it There are dozens of these community events across the Nord; the biggest being in Lille, of course. Though, there was no Saint Nicolas climbing out of the Lille Belfry.

Fake snow flies in front of the Espace d'Acacias (community building), in Hellemmes. Don't believe the temperature - that thermometre lies, it's usually three or four degrees colder than what it says. The clock is fast too, which always make me believe I'm late for work.

Kids play in the fake snow.

Fireworks outside Hellemmes Mairie.