History

SAINT NICHOLAS (SINTERKLAAS)

In earlier times, the feast was both an occasion to help the poor by putting some money in their shoes (which evolved in putting presents in children's shoes) and a wild feast, similar to Carnival , that often led to mass public drunkenness. After the Netherlands became a largely Protestant country, many Calvinists argued that the feast of Sinterklaas was too 'paaps' (a slang term for catholic ) and should be abolished. However, the feast was so popular, even among the Protestant population, that these efforts were largely unsuccessful.

It is also celebrated in parts of France ( North , Alsace , Lorraine ), as well as in Luxembourg , Switzerland , Germany , Austria , Poland , Hungary , Croatia , Romania , Slovakia , Slovenia , the Czech Republic and in the town of Trieste and in Eastern Friuli in Italy .

Arrival

Sinterklaas traditionally arrives each year in mid-November (usually on a Saturday) by steamboat from Spain (even though the bishop was originally from Asia Minor ). Some suggest that gifts associated with the holy man such as Mandarin oranges led to the misconception that he must have been from Spain. He is then paraded through the streets, welcomed by cheering and singing children. This event is broadcasted live on national television in the Netherlands and Belgium. His Zwarte Piet assistants throw candy and small, round, ginger bread-like cookies, either "kruidnoten" or " pepernoten ," into the crowd. The children welcome him by singing traditional Sinterklaas songs. Sinterklaas also visits schools, hospitals and shopping centers. After this arrival all towns with a dock have their own "intocht van Sinterklaas" (arrival of Sinterklaas). Local arrivals usually take place on Sunday, the day after he arrives in the Netherlands or Belgium. In places a boat cannot reach, Sinterklaas arrives by train , bus , horse, or even carriage.

Presents

Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and December 5, before going to bed children put their shoes next to the fireplace chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, or, in modern times, next to the central heating, with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water "for Sinterklaas' horse," and sing a Sinterklaas song; the next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes, supposedly thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas himself. When a house has no chimney, Sinterklaas is said to enter using his special key that fits on every door in the Netherlands. Presents are often accompanied by a simple poem, saying something about the child or containing a hint to the nature of the present. Sinterklaas often uses these poems to reprimand and tease children about bad habits or behavior.

Christmas in Netherlands

Christmas, the traditional Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated over two days in the Netherlands, i.e. Eerste Kerstdag (First Christmas Day) on December 25 and Tweede Kerstdag (Second Christmas Day) on December 26, both of which are public holidays. People buy Christmas trees, and decorate them with

kerstkransjes

(Christmas wreath cookies), glass balls, gilded nuts, ribbons, glittery pine cones, frosted bells, and red and white candles. Many people place beautiful Advent star lights in their windows. The main square of every city has its own brightly lit Christmas tree. Twinkly lights shaped like bells and stars, and garlands are strung over many of the charming old streets, adding instant Christmas cheer during the darkest days of the year.

Families spend the day together on the 25th. Some attend a late night Christmas service at church, after which they eat breakfast at home, often in the early hours. In an increasingly irreligious Holland, however, most people just relax at home and eat themselves silly. Breakfast usually consists of a brunch with a

kerststol

(fruited Christmas loaf) with butter, and luxury breakfast items like smoked salmon, pates, fancy bread rolls, etc.

Kermesse

Kermesse or kermis, is a term derived from 'kerk'

( church ) and 'mis' ( mass ) that became borrowed in English and French , originally denoting the mass said on the anniversary of the foundation of a church and in honour of the patron .

The first kermesse was an annual parade to celebrate the events of 1370 (some sources say 1369) in Brussels, when all the Jews of the city were burnt alive for having profaned a basket of communion hosts, which bled when stabbed.

These festivities still survive in the form of funfairs , while the old allegorical representations are now uncommon. The funfair on the Vrijdagmarkt in Ghent coincides with the 10-day long

Gentse Feesten

(Ghent Festivities) which are held across the entire inner city around the 21st of July ( Belgian national holiday).