St Nicholas Day celebration at Park
GELLI Aur Country Park will be hosting a St Nicholas Day celebration tomorrow.
St Nicholas, the original Santa Claus, is traditionally honoured on this date across Europe with festivities that included feasting and gift giving.
Golden Grove, in Llandeilo, will be marking St Nicholas Day with a range of seasonal activities and festive food and drink in the cafe.
Golden chairman mon said: Grove Trust Richard Sal“St Nicholas Day represents a ancient celebration Christmas itself.
“It wasn’t until well after the present mansion at Golden Grove was built that Christmas became the occasion that we would recognise today.
“I hope everyone enjoys our mix of the spirit of old and new for our first St Nicholas Day party.”
The historic Gelli Aur Arboretum will be candlelit for the occasion.
Visitors can take walks through the arboretum, guided by the candles and more than see its collection of rare trees. Staying on the theme of trees, the event will also feature the switching on of the Gelli Aur Christmas tree.
The Golden Grove Trust will also be welcoming former Hawkwind band member Thomas Crimble in quite a new role – as Saint Nicholas, or as we more usually know him, Father Christmas.
Father Crimble will be performing the traditional Santa role of handing out gifts and posing for yuletide selfies. Visits to Santa will cost £4, to include a gift.
The cafe will be serving a special festive menu that includes soup, mince pies, turkey and stuffing rolls and mulled wine. Other drinks and snacks will also be available.
The celebrations kick off at 5.30pm and the lighting of the tree will be at 6pm, after which Father Christmas will ready for callers.
Golden Grove will be open every day over the holidays from 10am until 5pm, except for Christmas Day.