The Nicoline Festivities

Initially, the festivities took place only on the saint’s feast day, the 6th of December. In the morning on that day, students would attend high mass and in the afternoon participate in games and other popular events.
Over time, it was felt that one day only was not enough for these festivities, so they were extended to two days, the 5th and the 6th. On the 5th, the programme of the following day was announced in the streets by a student “town crier.”

During this time, the students participate in various activities that give the week a unique structure. Each day brings a particular event, known as a Número Nicolino, or literally a “Nicoline Number.” They are:
As Novenas (the Novenas)
As Ceias Nicolinas (the St. Nicholas Suppers)
O Pinheiro (Planting the Pine Tree)
As Posses (The Offerings)
O Magusto (The Chestnut Fire)
As Roubalheiras (Little Robberies)
O Pregão (Reciting Poetry in the Streets)
As Maçãzinhas (The Little Apple Love Offerings)
As Danças de S. Nicolau (St. Nicholas Dances)
O Baile Nicolino (the Nicoline Ball)

The St. Nicholas Festivities have evolved over the centuries but their essence has always been preserved; they are considered to be some of the oldest celebrations in Guimarães, testament to the rich cultural heritage of the city.

As Novenas (The Novenas)
The students of Guimarães show strong devotion to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, whose feast day is the 8th of December. Beginning nine days before this date and very early every morning, students and locals pray the rosary in honour of the Immaculate Conception.

O Pinheiro (Planting the Pine Tree)
Planting the Pine Tree was not initially part of the formal St. Nicholas Festivities. It was simply the moment that announced the start of the Festivities when students “planted” a pine in the main square, the Toural, with the scholastic flag hoisted.
Later, the Planting of the Pine Tree was considered itself a formal event, integrated now as one of the most important ones. Thus, on the 29th of November around 11:00 p.m., a tall pine tree is transported on an ox-drawn cart through the city streets to the place where it will put into the ground, accompanied by an enormous parade of students and alumni banging on drums in a special rhythm only played for the St. Nicholas Festivities.
This is the event that draws the most people, both spectators and participants, with thousands of marchers and onlookers filling the city.

As Ceias Nicolinas (the St. Nicholas Suppers)
Originally, when the Pine Tree was planted around 8:00 in the evening, the students met afterwards for a late supper. Since the Pine Tree gets planted later these days, the suppers take place before the event and are more rightly called “dinners” (jantares).
These dinners give current students the opportunity to socialize; former students use this reunion as a chance to see old friends again and relive happy high school memories.
Whoever wants to come to Guimarães for dinner on this day needs to make prior reservations since all the restaurants are full up with large festive groups of students.

As Posses (The Offerings)
This St. Nicholas Festivity takes place on the 4th of December. In olden times, students would pass by the homes of wealthy and respected families in Guimarães in hopes of receiving various offerings, mostly food and drink. The potter from Cruz da Pedra Street might would usually offer some kindling wood for the Magusto, the Chestnut Fire. Nowadays, private organisations, cultural associations or individuals may participate.

O Magusto (The Chestnut Fire)
After the Offerings were collected, students would go to the spot where the Pine Tree was planted to see what treats they had received, and using the kindling, they would start the Chestnut Fire to roast their chestnuts. Nowadays, the Magusto takes place in Santiago Square where students share what they have collected with passersby.

As Roubalheiras (Little Robberies)
Once the Chestnut Fire had ended, the students used to wander throughout the city in a night of mischief that involved removing ordinary objects from public places (“stealing” flower pots, bronze plaques for doctor’s or lawyer’s offices) and putting them in the Toural Square as an innocent joke. The next day, citizens would stop to see what the students had taken during the night. This St. Nicholas event was discontinued, however, when it led to true robbery and abuse. It has since been revived because students no longer publicise which night their prank will take place.

O Pregão (Reciting Poetry in the Streets)
On the 5th of December, a day of Reciting Poetry in the Streets takes place, in which a poet-crier reads aloud original rhymed verse in various spots in the city.
According to tradition, the Parade for Reciting Poetry was led by a student riding a horse, formally dressed in a long robe, cloak and white gloves. Next to him was another student carrying the official scholastic flag; both surrounded by an honour guard of students either on foot or horseback. These were followed by drummers and an ox-cart in which stood four students and the student “poet-crier,” called a pregoeiro.
The texts (written by the students themselves) read aloud in the Pregão deal with student life and affairs, the student festivities or perhaps current events on the local, national or international level. A good dose of humour, satire and sarcasm is always included.
The texts are read out at the City Hall Square, at the former Martins Sarmento Secondary School, at the shop door of Dona Aninhas (a woman from the early 20th century considered to be the godmother of students due to her dedication to them) and at Santiago Square, where the Martins Sarmento Secondary School Alumni Association is located.

As Maçãzinhas (The Little Apple Love Offerings)
This St. Nicholas event, which takes place on the 6th of December, has its origins in the romantic movements that swept England, France and Germany in the late 18th century. Revived at that time was the medieval notion of chivalry and courtly love, where men were servants of women, kneeling in admiration at their beauty, respectfully at their feet.
The Little Apple Love Offerings are the gentlemanly display of this affection. The male students seek out young ladies standing on the balconies lining Santiago Square, offering them an apple placed on a long pole or lance. The women return the kind gesture with a small trinket after taking the apple. It is said that each young gentleman must give his “lady love” the reddest apple.

As Danças de S. Nicolau (St. Nicholas Dances)
This event harkens back to the custom of adding secular activities (dances, theatrical performances, etc.) to the feast day of St. Nicholas, which in fact, was how the students originally raised the funds necessary to build the Chapel of St. Nicholas in the Church Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.
Nowadays, on the evening of the 6th of December, a type of variety show takes places where various well-known people are caricatured: D. Afonso Henriques, Mumadona, St. Nicholas himself, Minerva, etc…

O Baile Nicolino (the Nicoline Ball)
The 7th of December brings together many former students (and their friends from the same generation) for a stylish evening of dinner and dancing. Wearing the best in formal attire, the participants recreate the elegance of the 19th century. This is known as the “Nostalgia Ball,” or Baile de Saudade because so many alumni gather to look back at those happy moments when they were students. It is with this great banquet that the Festas Nicolinas end every year.

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