Today is the festival of Saint Nicholas, referred to as Sinterklaas in the Dutch speaking parts of the world. Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra, present-day Smyrna in Turkey. After his death, his remains were spirited across the Mediterranean to Spain. He is the patron-saint of children and travellers. Today, Sinterklaas arrives in a port in Holland aboard a steamship, surrounded by an entourage of Black Peters (Zwarte Pieten). They are black-skinned (long life shoe polish), a reference to the fact that Spain was occupied by Moors from North Africa, who were of a swarthy disposition.
Sinterklaas comes bearing gifts for all children in Holland, provided they have been good. Bad children will be picked up by Zwarte Piet and taken back to Spain in the big sack, which held the presents. On the evening of 5 December, Sinterklaas will take to his white charger to ride across the rooftops of Holland. He will drop presents down the chimneys, and collect a carrot for the horse, left by the children in their shoes by the fireplace. Bad children will get a faggot instead of a present, provided they're not taken away. In order to actually get a present, children will have to sing a Sinterklaas song into the fireplace.
Repost from last year
thx for sharing....love the harbour pic
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I hope they all have gifts in their shoes. I think it is a lovely tradition and my family always used to put their shoes out when they were little. I'll be hoping they pass it on to their children too.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely lovely! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear how other countries celebrate, thanks for sharing!!
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