01/12/2021
✨SINTERKLAAS ✨
Do you really know who is he?
🚢 Built around the image of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, Sinterklaas is a legendary Christmas figure celebrated and loved in The Netherlands.
He can be recognized by his eye-catching red cape with red miter and his long white beard. The saintly man arrives each year in mid-November on a steam boat filled with gifts and together with his helpers, all referred to as 'Piet’.
📍 History: Saint Nicholas was born in the 3rd century to wealthy parents in the Patara region, Greek at the time, but currently in Turkey. He spent his life by giving away his wealth to the poor and doing good deeds. He died on December 6th, so his life is commemorated as the Feast of Sinterklass on December 5th and 6th. It has been celebrated for at least 700 years in The Netherlands as a catholic celebration.
Many of today's traditions such as the steam boat, came from a book written by teacher Jan Schenkman in 1850 but the real commercialization of Sinterklaas began in the 30's.
👟how to celebrate: The holiday is observed by exchanging gifts and chocolate letters of the recipient's first initial.
For children, this means they can put their shoe next to the chimney or back door. At night, Sinterklaas rides across the rooftops on his white horse Ozosnel and places little treats or gifts in the children's shoes, assisted by his helpers, the Pieten.
🎁 When: The holiday itself is celebrated in 5 December (pakkjesavond), when gifts are exchanged. Children sing songs to Sinterklaas at the top of their lungs until they hear a knock on the door. But it all starts mid-november when he arrives from Spain then the children can start putting their shoes before going to bed to find a little gift in it next morning.
Don't forget the carrot or apple for Ozosnel😉
❕Tips: Bake your own "pepernoten" with your kids. It is a fun way to spend time with them and to eat home made treats.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/traditional-pepernoten-recipe-1128532
So be ready on the 5th and enjoy
