Sinterklaas is a shortening of “Sint Nicolaas” or Saint Nicholas. If you know the song, you might recognize “jolly ol’ Saint Nick”. In the Dutch-speaking world a whole story has grown up around this actual historical figure. Although the holiday that is celebrated is said to be his birthday, it is actually the day Saint Nicholas of Myra died: December 6, 343. This Bishop Nicholas was of Greek descent from the city of Myra which is present-day Turkey. All of these elements come together in the tradition.
Historically, Nicholas was known as a well-doer who often gave secret gifts to those who really needed it. These include him dropping sacks of gold coins through the window of a house three days in a row so that a father could pay for a dowry for his three daughters, thereby saving them from forced prostitution. Another story tells of him saving three innocent soldiers from execution. And so the idea of giving goods things at this time was born.
These days Sinterklaas arrives on a steamboat (often coming from Turkey) and rides on a horse. He wears his clerical robes - it is clear that he is a bishop. And he has several helpers. These helpers have changed throughout the years and depending on the country. We remember seeing Sinterklaas in Echternach (Luxembourg) with two executioners at his side! In The Netherlands and Belgium his helpers are called “zwarte Piet” or black Pete. They are often in black face and are meant to be helpers from Morocco. In more recent years, the black face has changed to some swipes of black on their faces because they came down the chimney.
On this day, children put their shoes out and they leave a carrot and some goodies for the horse and the saint. They receive sweets and gifts in or near their shoes. Americans can immediately see how this corresponds to Santa Claus coming down the chimney bringing gifts. I remember leaving cookies and milk for him and the reindeer. He even wears a red suit, although the religious costume has changed to a winter suit. More than likely, the resourceful Dutch merchants of early America were the ones who introduced Santa to the public (he showed up in a big way in the middle of the 19th century).
In the last 30 or 40 years, commerce in Belgium and The Netherlands has figured out that you can sell more goods if you include Sinterklaas but add Christmas. Christmas used to be more of a religious holiday, without gifts. Now people can buy gifts the whole month of December. One is not supposed to start with Christmas until after December 6, when Sinterklaas has been and gone.
We remember adding Sinterklaas to our traditions for the boys as they grew up. It was nice that we could let them know that he was an actual historical figure. What traditions do you have around the Christmas holiday? What do you remember as a child growing up? What do you do with your children?
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