MASTERPIECE
One of the best-known holidays originating from a saint is December 6, the anniversary of the death of Saint Nicholas: the Feast of Saint Nicholas. This originally five-panel work shows the saint as the bishop of Myra (we can identify Bruges in the background), surrounded by four scenes showing examples of his generosity and goodness. In the top left, we see Nicholas as a young man, throwing money three times through the window of a poor man with three daughters. He has been searching for a future husband for them but cannot afford a dowry. Here, we see a reflection of the giving of presents, as well as the throwing of sweets and chocolate money, which are still part of the Feast of Saint Nicholas today, celebrated on December 6 in Belgium and on December 5 in the Netherlands.