Here’s the info we were sent about Sinterklaas. It really is a big deal here, especially if you talk to the Dutch – it seems to be almost bigger than Christmas.
Every December in the Netherlands, Curacao and countries around the world, the festival of St. Nicholas is celebrated. It is one of the biggest and most loved festivals of the year in Dutch communities.
Who is Sinterklaas?
Saint Nicholas lived in the 3rd century AD and was the bishop of Myra (Turkey). He is revered as the benefactor and protector of children. He died on December 6th, 343 AD, and ever since, the festival of St. Nicholas has been celebrated on that day (in the Netherlands it is celebrated the evening before - St. Nicholas Eve).
What are the traditions?
Sinterklaas and his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten , traditionally travel to Curacao by steamboat, all the way from Spain where they live in a big castle. When the steamboat arrives in the harbor (this year on November 19th, at about 9 am), hundreds of children will be welcoming Sinterklaas, singing songs, waving and cheering. There will be a parade, and they will spend time visiting the island, and of course wrapping all the presents for the big day!
Sinterklaas is dressed like a bishop, with a bishop's hat ("mijter"), a red mantle and a golden staff. His big red book is full of information about all the children he will visit. He rides a white horse, named Amerigo, and his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten, entertain everybody with acrobatics, funny jokes and candy.
Traditionally, on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5th, Sinterklaas and the Zwarte Pieten go on the rooftops and deliver the presents through the chimney, and place these in the shoes of the children. Children put out their shoe before they go to bed, sing a Sinterklaas song, and usually leave some hay, water and carrots for the horse.
What do we eat?
In the stores right now I can get the typical cookies and candies related to this festival: speculaas (spiced cookies), pepernoten or kruidnoten (little round spiced cookies), marsepein (marzipan) in all imaginable colors and shapes, taai-taai (cookie), chocolate letters and all sorts of little candies.
The interesting thing about the Zwarte Pieten is how the story has evolved. As you’ll see in the pictures, people darken their faces and make their lips really pronounced. Originally it was said that the Zwarte Pieten were St. Nicholas’s slaves; then they were his helpers; and now, in an effort to be more PC, the story is that their black faces come from the chimney dust. Some of the locals and the non-Dutch teachers here find the celebration of Sinterklaas offensive. We will be having a Sinterklaas celebration here at school on Monday (DEC 5) – it will be interesting if nothing else.
Also, it used to be if Sinterklaas thought you were “naughty” you would be put in a burlap bag and beaten with a little handmade-handheld broom. They sell miniature bags in the stores for all your Sinterklaas present-wrapping needs.
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