Traditional Dutch Christmas
The Netherlands is beautiful at Christmas, like most of Europe town squares are decorated with lights and trees, there’s the chance of proper European snow, not the slushy stuff we get, there’s Christmas markets amongst Mediaeval architecture, and mulled wine or hot chocolate to keep out the chill.
Where the Netherlands takes a different route is with their version of Saint Nicholas. Ditch the Coca Cola image, Sint Nicolaas or Sinterklaas is not to be messed with. A renowned Dutch saint and patron of sailors he brings more than just seasonal cheer.
He’s tall, thin and dressed a lot like the Pope; a hangover from his days as a 4th Century Bishop in Myra, Turkey. Secondly Sinterklaas arrives by boat to the Netherlands in November, from Spain. Not Lapland note, but Spain.
Sinterklaas’s arrival into port is broadcast live on TV and big audiences turn out to see him and his entourage arrive.
He isn’t necessarily that happy to see you though; accompanied by Zwarte Pieten, his black helpers, he doles out a little corporal punishment to the kids who have been naughty not nice, stuffs them in a sack and takes them to Spain.
The black helper story has several origins; some say he represents the Spanish against whom the Dutch fought for independence during 17th Century, while folklore tells that having triumphed over evil St Nicolas made the devil his personal slave. Their skin is soot black, with red lipstick and mediaeval costume.
He whiles away the month meeting and greeting his terrified public, and 5th December is St Nicholas Day eve. Children who haven’t been kidnapped place shoes before the fire or radiator, they are then filled with small presents, sweets, chocolate letters and gingerbread. Dutch kids also leave out hay and carrots for Sinterklaas’s horses.
The Dutch obviously still celebrate Christmas, although they tend to be quieter affairs, and for the kids the real focus is often St Nicolas Day.
Prettige Kerstfeest people.
Tomas Mowlam
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Image Credit: Michell Zappa
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