Sun, 8 November 2009
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Don't be disheartened by the lack of Christmas presents in the Netherlands, there is a hidden advantage to the Dutch version of Xmas.Just the other week, I was chatting online with my youngest sister in the Philippines when she casually asked me: "Are you done with your Christmas shopping already?"
"Uh what, what Christmas shopping did you mean?"
"Are you not giving gifts to everyone there this Christmas?" was the more than surprised reply of my sister.
"Heck, no, I'm not!" I said, typing in the same thing into the chat window.
My sister responded, "What???" and "???"
I started to laugh.
Sitting across from me in the living room is the Dutchman who is giving me this strange look and wondering what has gotten over me — Why am I suddenly laughing? I ignored him and kept on laughing.
Here is the big question: How do we actually explain to the whole world that the Dutch do not give gifts to each other during Christmas? And that instead, they give gifts in a tradition derived from Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas in disguise), the biggest Dutch event celebrated every year on the eve of the saint's 'birthday' — 5 December.
I am sometimes a patient gal and explaining to people this marvelous Dutch myth — or history as some people call it — is just fine with me. But most of the times, I simply get a kick out of it when I see people's faces — or responses such as my sister's in the chat lines — who are caught unawares and surprised that there are no giving and exchanging of gifts during Christmas in the Netherlands.
About five years ago (which was my first Christmas in the Netherlands), the Dutchman knew how to forewarn me of the basics and dangers in gift giving. He said I shouldn't be busy buying anything for him and for his family. And as it is not the practice in the Netherlands to give gifts on Christmas day, there will be no giving and exchanging of gifts by the Dutch family members during the Christmas dinner gathering.
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