Who Sinterklaas

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Who?? Sinterklaas?? posted on 25th of november, 2008

As the American culture is moving into dutch society more and more, we dutch people are warmly welcoming the grizzly pumpkins in October and the presents under the Christmas tree. It is nice to have holidays added to the ones we used to celebrate from old.

One of these old and very precious dutch festives is the birthday of Saint Nicholas on december 5th. As legend tells it, he is already some 365 years old and still very much alive. Every year he visits the children in Holland around his brithday, sailing in from his residence in Spain with an old steamer packed with presents.

Every night, he wanders the streets with his white horse and some of his servants, zwarte Piet (black Peter). They go into the houses where sweet children live, and fill their ready-set shoe with presents. Zwarte Piet leaves behind some 'pepernoten' (small cookies) as litlle pieces of luck.

Does it sound a bit familiar? Well, maybe that is because he is said to be a cousin of Santa Claus. I guess giving away presents runs in the family.

But... although Santa seems a really nice guy to me, I hope he stays away from Holland. It seems that where Santa visits a home around christmas, poor old Sinterklaas is no longer welcome... and that to me is a big pity.

Understanding and acceptance around the world is a huge good to me, but also keeping alive the diversity in culture has to have it's attention. So... here's to Sinterklaas!

Tags: culture dutch holland holliday sinterklaas

Comments (2)

	Interesting article! I have studied many languages in my lifetime as a student of classical vocal music and I love meeting people of different cultures, this is certainly another doorway to open and find more that I had not known! Very nice! Merry Christmas to all! Sharon - posted by Arwen_sam on November 25, 2008
	I do not believe that neither Sinterklaas nor Santa Claus would approve of a world where one excludes the other. In sharing your story, your photos, and celebrating the traditions of Sinterklaas with friends and family each year will surly keep Santa on his own turf! Best wishes always. Marilyn - posted by Marilyngould on November 25, 2008

This article has been read 810 times. 1 readers have found this article useful.
Photo credits: , Jan Kranendonk, Robert Paul Van Beets, Martine De Graaf, Katarzyna Mazurowska, Remygerega.

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Martine De Graaf (Martinedegraaf)
Amsterdam, NL

>Starting uploading in august 2008, Dreamstime has grown it's way into my everyday life, and more and more, it gave direction and purpose to my passion for photography. From august 2010 the dream continues, as I am enjoying a place in DT's remote editors team.

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