Although he looks a bit like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas’ arrival in the Netherlands features nation-wide festivities without comparison.
Although he looks a bit like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas’ arrival in the Netherlands features nation-wide festivities without comparison.
Legend has it that Sinterklaas originally lived in Turkey as the Bishop of Mira, an honourable man who was kind to children. Kids believe he spends most of his time in Spain recording their behavior in a big red book, while his assistant Zwarte Piet stocks up presents.
Every November Sint arrives in the Netherlands with his loyal assistants to be welcomed by celebrations and parades. Once Sint is in town, children lay out their shoes next to a fireplace before bedtime, along with treats for his horse.
Good kids are rewarded with chocolate letters and marzipan, while the naughty ones anxiously wait to see if they get coal.
Although the feast of Sinterklaas falls on 6 December, the evening of 5 December is the main gift-giving occasion of the season, similar to Christmas. On this night Sint drops off gifts for children.
Among adults, tradition demands that all presents have to be ‘camouflaged’ in some imaginative way, and every gift has to be accompanied by a fitting poem.
Traditional Dutch culinary treats like kruidnoten and pepernoten (spice biscuits) and speculaas are enjoyed.
Klaudija Antolic is from Slovenia, but lives and studies in the Netherlands (when she is not doing an internship at Grocott's Mail!).
