Sinterklaas arrives in Den Haag this weekend
japra | Nov 13, 2009 | Comments 19
These two gals were just too cute! This was the first time I’ve seen a child on a bike holding an umbrella too. It’s been raining here all week. Hope the weather is better for Saturday’s parade.
Do you know about Sinterklaas aka Saint Nicholas, aka Father Christmas, aka Santa Claus? He’s comin’ to town this weekend. On a steamboat. From Spain.
I’m going to point you to this Wikipedia article about the Dutch version of Jolly ol’ St. Nick.
The Sinterklaas feast celebrates the name day, December 6, of Saint Nicholas (280–342), patron saint of children and sailors. Saint Nicholas was a bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey.
In earlier times, the feast was both an occasion to help the poor by putting some money in their shoes (which evolved into 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.
The modern tradition of Sinterklaas as a children’s feast probably originates from the illustrated children’s book ‘Sint Nicolaas en zijn knecht’ (Saint Nicholas and his helper) written in 1850 by teacher Jan Schenkman (1806–1863). This book introduced the concept of Sinterklaas delivering presents through the chimney, riding the roofs of houses on a white horse and arriving from Spain by steamboat. It also introduced the song ‘Zie ginds komt de stoomboot’ (See, there comes the steamboat) which remains one of the most well known Sinterklaas songs in the Netherlands.
Who I find interesting is Zwart Piet, Sinterklaas’ helper. Also, I just recently learned about Krampus. He’s another one of Saint Nicholas’ companions. He scares me.
Sadly, I have plans this weekend that don’t include the Sinterklaas parade. But I found this video by MarePacificum for you–Sinterklaas on the Grote Marktstraat. You can fast forward to 1:45 to see the big guy himself.
You can also listen to “Zie ginds komt de stoomboot“, a popular Sinterklaas song.
Look there is the steamboat
From far-away Spain.
It brings us Saint Nicholas,
I can see him, waving.
His horse is a-prancing
On deck up and down,
The banners are waving,
In village and town.
His servant is laughing
And tells everyone,
The good kids get candy,
The bad ones get none.
Oh, dearest Saint Nicholas,
If Pete and you would,
Just visit our house,
For we all have been good.
Filed Under: Blog • Featured • Outdoors • What to Do
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
I love the picture. Somehow the Dutch make riding in the rain look chic.
So Santa rides a Steamboat from Spain? Sounds like something Eliza Doolittle would have to say!
Yeah, that is quite a tongue twister!
Love the photo. Interesting post…I had to go to your wikipedia link for more! So he arrives from Spain, not the North Pole with a multi-cultural helper! Who knew?
Krampus is HORRIBLE! I clicked on the link expecting some silly grumpy sidekick and saw Satan’s minion instead. If that guy won’t keep your kids in bed on Christmas Eve I don’t know what will! I love the umbrella photo. I guess the Dutch start training their muscles for balance early!
Lucylucia, yes, he is a meanie. I don’t like him and am glad he doesn’t live in The Netherlands.
So many Black Peters…and that one horse! Something I have never seen before, and I’m glad it was on YouTube and not live. ;-)
Isn’t it interesting? I’m just glad the Krampus isn’t popular here!
Dear Trudy,
it was lovely to receive your note and your photo. Thank you very much. I think you have a lovely face and such beautiful eyes and are very photogenic. Have you ever thought of modelling ?.
Glad to hear that you have settled well in Holland, made some nice friends and got over any language difficulties..
Your new kennel sounds good too. I’m sure you will enjoy dog spotting from that big bay window especially as they leave the curtains open so much .
Are you allowed a morsel of stroopwafel now and again for good behaviour ? It looks yummy
I hope your Mom is settled and happy and your kennel is gezellig . Hope also you have some lovely walks and find some exciting smells
With love,
Barbara
Tee hee! Trudy is blushing from all of your kind words, Barbara :-)
Interesting? To say the least :) The Zwarte Piet story/image/tradition is absolutely mindboggling to an (this) expat from the US.
I had been warned about it by other expats who have been here in the NL for years, but I don’t know what they could have said to prepare me to see Dutch children in black face walking down the street, or googly-eyed, big-lipped black dolls HANGING by strings attached to their necks in my corner bakery.
I know that our sensibilities have been shaped by different imagery and histories, but this is the most fascinating, awkward and befuddling cultural clash I have yet encountered here in Den Haag :)
On a lighter note, David Sedaris’ article in Esquire in 2002, “Six to Eight Black Men” expresses some of this befuddlement in a hilarious way: http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1202-DEC_SEDARIS
Ah – the joys of expat life…
Monica, I walked around the Centrum today just to get a feel for how the stores treat the holiday season. It’s so low key here! No carols blaring out of speakers, no Christmas trees. But Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are everywhere ;-)
Reading each other’s blogs must have overlapped, as I was just reading yours and now got your so-supportive comments on mine! This photo makes me want to get straight on a plane and come see where you live. It’s just gorgeous! And the Santa story a completely unfamiliar one to me…
Kristen, if you’re ever on this side of the channel, please let me know!
Such a cool photograph; I admire the one-handed biking.
It’s funny how the Santa legends have some of the same elements . . . and some entirely different ones!
I know! I am getting quite an education over here ;-)
aHA! THAT’s what I get for reading the posts backwards!! Now I know what Zwart piet is/are. yay!
i’m way behind and must go catch up now.
au revior, mi ami. parting is such sweet triste.
(i’ll be back in a minute)
And I’m reading your comments backwards too. Glad Zwart Piet is making sense now!
that is one of the most excruciating videos i’ve ever seen.
thank you!
you must visit gingerbread snowflakes blog. she celebrates every possible version of Christmas in her crafting and it’s fabulous! I love what you’re showing us here. I’m going to make felt zwart piets and leave them all over Old Town for people to find!
I can’t wait to see that blog, Chris!