Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas was a huge deal in our house this year.  Sinterklass (or Saint Nicholas) visits all the children in Belgium, the Netherlands and several other former Dutch colonies every December 6th.  Santa Claus is not part of their Christmas tradition (presents are from family members that today).  Liam and Brenna learned about him for two weeks in school and even say his name with a Dutch accent and sing his traditional dutch songs.  For most Americans, us included, it takes a bit of getting used to!  Here are the details:

Some Differences from Christmas in US:

• Sinterklaas has some similarities to Santa Claus (white hair, red suit), however he is very serious, rides a white horse, carries a the good/naughty book with him, and arrives every year by steam boat from Spain!
• Children leave their shoes by the fireplace the night before and are rewarded with toys, chocolate coins, their initials in chocolate, and tangerines. 

Some of the more interesting differences:

• Sinterklass's sidekicks are called Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), adolescents dressed in blackface (yes blackface) with black curly hair dressed in colorful page boy outfits. 
• The politically correct explanation is that their faces are black from the soot in the fireplace.  Older stories say that it was the defeated devil, liberated slaves, etc.  Whatever the explanation, seeing it all over the place takes some getting used to!
• Sinterklaas and his Black Pete usually carry a bag which contains candy for nice children and a roe, a chimney sweep's broom made of willow branches, used to spank naughty children. Some of the older Sinterklaas songs make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and being taken back to Spain. Quite a Christmas Carol!

The kids were all dressed up to see Sinterklass arrive by boat on
the River Schelde in Antwerp.  

In all his glory!  

This was the parade scene in Antwerp after they disembarked the boat

A close up of a Zwarte Piet

The children left their shoes out on December 5th. Since Santa Claus was also coming to Belgium, Sinterklass kept it pretty simple.

The Zwarte Piet left handprints on the fireplace

Liam made a shoe in school.  Brenna chose her Croc.  

I have a feeling that this tradition will stick for some years in our family.  Differences aside, it is all about celebrating the season with children and it brought lots smiles to all of our faces.