The Feast of St. Nicholas, Jan Havicksz. Steen, 1665 - 1668
Saint Nicholas is celebrated in December. It has been done the same way for centuries. Children who are good receive presents from St. Nicholas. The girl in front has a bucket full. Naughty children, like the crying boy on the left, get an oar (a bundle of branches) in their shoe. Jan Steen was a born storyteller. He portrayed here all the elements of the famous folk festival.
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