Oëlleville

Oëlleville is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.
Inhabitants are called Oëllevillois.

Geography

The commune is positioned at the confluence of various minor roads approximately to the west-north-west of Mirecourt and a slightly longer distance to the north-north-east of Vittel. Over 12% of the commune land is forested.

Tradition

The village makes a particular feature of the feast of St Nicholas on December 6. Each year a member of the community, chosen for his imposing physique and the steely firmness of his eyes, is selected to dress up as The Saint, who is accompanied by Père Fouettard with his own bag of less welcome seasonal gifts. A procession and other seasonal gift related celebrations and rituals ensue.