SinterKlaas the Dutch christmas

The Dutch celebrate xmas, predominantly for children on the 5th of December. "Sinter Klaas" or gift evening, is named after a Bishop originally from Turkey who visits the Netherlands via Spain, with helpers, "Piets", who are chimney sweepers. A few weeks before the 5th of December Sinter Klaas, the Saint and his helpers, arrive by boat on different canals throughout the country. In Covid times, things are different! Even the Sint keeps 1.5 m distance now and his inward journeys are quiet and he converse online too. Although I did see him and Piet yesterday in my suburb. Walking around with his long staff, probably delivering packages. 

In the weeks that lead up to today, children put out a shoe or boot overnight, leaving a carrot for the Saint's horse and sing a song. Naturally, small gifts arrive overnight, although not always! It all depends on which children he visits that night.  The cosy group in better times also visit business premises, shops, schools etc and throw "pepernoten" everywhere, teasing in jest. Pepernoten nutmeg hard small biscuits.  

 

The tradition has long been scorned on by other countries who cite that it is a racist tradition because the Piet's are black and the tradition dates back to slavery times.  Thus, in recent years it became a hot topic with many Dutch people claiming they were hurt by the tradition while others of the same colour said it was tradition, they grew up with it and didn't feel any pain. Some want to change it, or abolish or keep it. There there are the aged, who faint if asked to change any customary heritage and there are stubborn Middle Aged that want to still refer to colour. Thus, there has been quite some turmoil with demonstrations and both groups shouting insults at each other, sometimes even resulting in violence, at what I might add, a children's christmas party! 🤣😂

                             Old fashioned Piets at Schiphol 2016

I have always felt that the tradition should be kept but that they change the name from "Zwart" Piet to just Piet and he/she may be whatever colour they want. My argument being, we do not refer to St Nicolaas as White St Nicolaas, so why the reference to colour? It's so bizarre, like way in the deep south where people are actually referred to still by their colour.  

The last few years, needless to say, some parties have changed to rainbow coloured Piets, pink, green or whatever. Yet the name change still seems to be the biggest issue as language is so engrained into culture. But language also evolves (just think of mouse, swipe, firewall and virus) therefore, so should people step out their comfort zone and evolve. Learning should be lifelong.

 

SinterKlaas and Piets arriving by boat pre-Covid times. 

The Saint has a book of good behaviour and a sack of gifts. On the day itself, at a special dinner and gift opening ceremony gifts are presented with specially personalised written poems for the gift recipient to guess the gift contents. Depending on the age of the family's children, sometimes weeks in advance, they’ll make big hand craft "Surprises," which creatively depict something about a gift recipient, or the gift itself, for example a car, specific daily  scene,  a room or an animal.  On the day if at work, employees, family members and almost everyone receives a chocolate letter in their first initial.

SinterKlaas chocolates in the supermarket

 

Fortunately, Sinterklaas falls on Sunday this year. Zo, ik wens iedereen een Heerlijke Sinterklaas Feestje vol eten, spellen en liedjes.

Sinter Klaas kapoentje, 

Gooi wat in me schoentje, 

Gooi wat in me laars, 

Dank je Sinter Klaas!