Sinterklaas is an old, friendly, bishop who rides a white horse. He has a helper named Zwarte Piet (or Black Peter) who keeps a big book of records to identify the children who are 'good', and those who are not.
Three weeks prior to Sinterklaas's birthday, he and Zwarte Piet leave Spain and set sail for Holland to arrive at one of Holland's many ports. Kids (and parents too!) anxiously await his arrival. This is a day filled with lots of celebration! It is also the day when the children begin leaving a clog or shoe next to the chimney that is filled with carrots and hay for the white horse, and usually a note, poem or artwork that is left there for Sinterklaas.
Zwarte Piet goes around Holland and climbs down each chimney to check on the children. If he finds 'good' children then he will leave a small present and perhaps some candy. If he comes across anyone who is 'bad', then he will leave nothing (or perhaps a lump of coal)! It is also rumored that 'extremely bad' children may be placed in Zwarte Piet's sack and taken (with him and Sinterklaas) back to Spain!
On December 5th many dutch families participate in 'Sinterklaas parties'. These are festive parties where plenty of sweets are served and fun games are played. Often the games include 'clues' for the children to find small presents left by Sinterklaas. Sometimes children get very lucky by receiving all of their presents. There will be a knock on the door followed by the discovery of a sack full of presents!
'Santa Claus' (or 'Christmas man') is someone other than Sinterklaas. This guy comes from Lapland Finland.
In Holland, Christmas Day is a much quieter day that will likely include attendance at a church service followed by a family meal sometime later that day.
And, yes, dutch families do have Christmas trees in their homes.
'Prettige Kerstfeest' or Happy/Merry Christmas!
Carrie's and my arrival at the port (which happens to be about 3 blocks from our home)....
Check out their shoes!
Oh, the joy of Christmas!
The anticipation was building! On the screen is a video showing 'Sinterklaas' on the boat coming from Madrid. They are getting ready to sail into the Den Haag harbor where Carrie, myself and tons of other people are anxiously waiting to greet them...
Still waiting...
...and the crowd continues to swell....
... could it be???...
...Nope, false alarm!
There he is!
... as the boat begins to round the corner of the channel, which feeds into the harbor.
Lot's of music... festive music!
'Sinterklaas' must have been exhausted at the end of the day because he seemed to be everywhere! The following photos were taken hours later when he finally made it down to the city's center.
Got'ta have plenty of carrots and hay for Sinterklaas's white horse!
A dutch family taking in the parade from their dutch bicycles.
This is a very common sight here.
There he is! ... finally!
The 'magic' of Christmas!
