Sun, 22 November 2009
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Traditionally, in mid-November, two weeks before his celebrated Feast Day, Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands by boat from his home in Spain. Editor Natasha Gunn looks into the background to this long-standing tradition which culminates in present-giving on 5 December.Accompanied by his white horse (Schimmel) and his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes), Sinterklaas or Sint Niklaas (Saint Nicholas) arrives in the Netherlands to signify the start of the holiday season. This event is broadcast live, and each year Sinterklaas arrives in a different city – this year in Schiedam on Saturday 14 November.
This official arrival, on a Saturday, is followed on Sunday by Sinta's arrival in Amsterdam and he arrives, unofficially, anyhow in most towns and cities across the Netherlands and may still be on his way to you. Alkmaar 2007:
Saint Nicholas's horse got stressed-out in Alkmaar and shook Sint off his back by sitting down.
Photo by Peter Kerkhove
If you've got young children and miss out on his arrival, don't despair, you'll see his tall (we're in the Netherlands after all) bishop-like figure everywhere, in shopping malls, in schools, and gracing parties across the Netherlands. Plus, Children can start participating from now by putting out their shoe at night and a carrot for the horse and a glass of milk (or wine) for Sinterklaas and his helpers. During the two weeks before his 'birthday', Sinterklaas 'rides across rooftops at night on his white horse, listening through chimneys for good children and leaving them treats and sweeties in their shoes. The build up is to the eve before his Feast Day (Sinterklaasavond), when Sinterklaas delivers gifts to good children and coal to children who have been naughty.
On Sinterklaasavond (5 December), children anxiously wait for Sinterklaas to knock on their door. Although Sint will usually have flown by the time they answer, a sack full of gifts will await them on their doorstep. Following Sinterklaas' visit, each member of the family takes turns handing out presents and unwrapping them. Names are printed on each gift, and almost every present is accompanied by a humorous poem about the gift's recipient. Check out our Sinterklaas Survival guide for more details and a link to a Sinterklaas poem generator.
Families celebrate Sinterklaas' Feast by singing songs and indulging in a feast of their own, which consists mainly of sweets like marzipan, chocolate initials, pepernoten (ginger biscuits) and hot chocolate with whipped cream.
Who was Sint Niklaas?
The original Saint Nicholas was a Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the first half of the fourth century. By the late middle ages, his death – or birth into heaven – on 6 December, was commemorated annually. St Nicholas came back to earth bearing gifts for all deserving children and punished the rest through leaving birch switches behind for parental use.
[Left: Painting of the Bishop of Myra by early Dutch painter Gerard David (c. 1460 - 1523)]
Now, St Nicholas arrives in Flanders and the Netherlands in November from Spain - It is widely believed that Spanish sailors brought the legend of Saint Nicholas to the Netherlands - to get ready for the special celebrations on 6 December. While the Dutch celebrate on 5 December, in Flanders celebrations take place on the day (6 December) with more focus on the children than the whole family.
St Nicholas and his white horse have also been associated with the pagan legend of the Germanic god Wodon (Danish god Odin), an all-powerful deity who was believed to fly through the air on a magic horse each December on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
The image
The traditional image of Sinterklaas is one of a bishop, clothed in a white garment and wrapped in a red cloak. He wears a tall red and gold hop'smiter (head dress) that covers his long white curly hair. He usually wears white gloves, and in one hand carries a long metal staff and in the other hand the book of names. Like the North American concept of Santa Claus, he has a long white beard, however, unlike his North American cousin; he's austere and elegant rather than fat and jolly.
Sinterklaas arrives in just about every city and town across the country every year, and not in just one city, as you've stated. He arrived in Rotterdam and Schiedam on Saturday.
"This official arrival, on a Saturday, is followed on Sunday by Sinta's arrival in Amsterdam and he arrives, unofficially, anyhow in most towns and cities across the Netherlands and may still be on his way to you"
I am from the United States. There we discarded the black face because because of racial and biogtry. It was the black face in the theater because the "Negro" was not allowed to be in the theater as an actor and the mummers used the black face for much the same reason.
Here may be not the same reason but in my eyes I still feel biogtry when I see this happening. I am not a Black or an Afro American, I am White
Why does everything have to be suddenly a race issue? This is a tradition, don't politicize it. My kids look forward to seeing Zwarte Piet, not because he's got a black face, but because he's got the cookies! Such an innocent and sweet stand point, and grown ups have to make a racial issue out of it.
I agree with Mel. There is so many ways we can find harm in all things, but let's leave some of the only things we have left alone. Do we also get rid of or make politically correct the Fairy Tales, Nursery Rhymes and Myths of our youth? Let's all get uptight about everything we see, and then wonder why kids have nothing to look forward to except gangs, and other mischief. Only those who look for trouble find it. I never heard any of my black friends comment on this, nor on anything else racist. But white people...I guess they think they are appointed to clean up the world. Let's all start in our own backyard. Anyone want to throw the first stone?????
I RESPECT YOUR OPINION PLEASE RESPECT MINE.
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