by Victor Caneva
The Fiera di San Nicolò will make its joyous return to Trieste this 1 December.
Deputy Mayor Serena Tonel presided over the inauguration and music from the Banda Vecia Trieste added to the upbeat ambiance. Even the man of the hour, San Nicolò, made an appearance in his crimson coat.
From December 2nd to December 8th, the Fiera di San Nicolò will be open from 9:00AM to 9:00PM and will feature 86 stalls offering a wide variety of fare, from regional food to gifts to homegoods. Apart from a station manned by San Nicolò where children can drop off their wish lists, there will be much entertainment in an effort to bring back the former glory to the famous Triestine fair.
The fair, which has been held on Viale XX Settembre since 1923, represents a very unique Triestine holiday tradition and locals and visitors alike will be thrilled to see its return. Historically, the festival was a momentous event for the youngsters of Trieste. Children, wealthy and poor alike, could all expect something special from the saint during the fiera, which provided Triestine kids a taste of holiday wonder. The Fiera di San Nicolò is less child-centric today, but it is still child-friendly and offers a chance to celebrate the holidays with an unmatched Triestine-ness.
San Nicolò has been celebrated on the day of his death in Trieste for centuries and Trieste owes its unique manifestation of the celebration to its mixture of Austrian, Greek, Italian, and Istrian influences.
