Sinterklaas is The Netherlands' holiday equivalent to our Santa Claus. Some even say Sinterklaas is the version of St. Nick upon which Santa is based, because of the dutch settlers in New York. But there are big differences in timing and traditions!
Each November, Sinterklaas arrives on a boat from his residence in Spain. He brings along his white horse and the "Zwarte Pieten" ("Black Peters"). Every year Sinterklaas officially arrives in a different Holland city, but he manages to have a procession in just about every town in the country. The "Peters" toss licorice candy or spice cookies to the kids. In some of the larger cities like Amsterdam they perform tricks like jumping out of department store windows.
Leading up to the feast of St. Nikolaus, children put their shoes out every night, sing a Sinterklaas song, and leave treats for the Peters or the White Horse. Each night a treat or small gift is left for the kids ... or a bunch of sticks or salt if they've been bad!
As opposed to our tradition of gift-giving on Christmas Day, the Dutch exchange gifts on (or the evening before) St. Nickolaus Day (Dec. 6). Many of the gifts are homemade and often a humorous poem is read along with the gift. The emphasis is on giving very personal gifts.
Normally, Christmas trees don't go up until after this point. Suddenly all of the Sinterklaas and Zwarte Pieten disappear from the stores until his arrival the following year.
If you'd like to read a more detailed account of this holiday tradition, check out the wiki article here.
Thanks for visiting ... perhaps we'll share some other traditions next year. Best wishes for a happy new year!
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