Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas is a Dutch Christmas Party celebrated on December 5th & 6th of each year where they exchange gifts and read poems, it is full of laughs and joy.
Sinterklaas rides in from Spain on a white horse with Zwarte (black) Pete who keeps record of who is naughty or nice. Sinterklaas visits each child that evening and the children leave hay and carrots in their shoes and boots for the his horse. The next morning they find presents in and around their shoes.
On the 24th and 25th they celebrate the birth of the Savior and it is a more quiet, family oriented holiday.

Sinterklaas in History:

Did you know that it was Dutch Immigrants who brought the tradition of Santa Claus to the rest of the world? That’s right! It all started waaaay back in the 4th Century when a Bishop in Turkey named St. Nicholas became widely known for his good deed with poor children in Europe. His feast day became known as the Celebration of Sinterklaas and was held on December 6. St. Nicholas is also known as the patron saint of Amsterdam. Many different versions of the story of Saint Nicholas are told but there are some common characters in each one. First is Saint Nick’s companion Zwarte Piet. Some believe that Zwarte Piet was a black slave. This is not the case. Zwarte Piet is said to be a Turkish orphan that traveled as St. Nicholas’ helper. His darker Turkish features must have seemed black to the fairer 4th Century Dutch. The second common character is Schimmel, St. Nicholas’ fine white horse.

St. Nicholas is pictured in medieval and renaissance paintings as a tall, dignified man dressed in red vestments carrying a Bishop’s golden crook. Zwarte Piet is depicted in garish Turkish garb with bright red lips and a gold earring. The legend describes St. Nicholas and Zwarte Piet traveling from their home in Spain across Europe helping the poor and bring food to children. Through the ages, the story of St. Nicholas astride his white horse with this helper Zwarte Piet grew into a tradition to celebrate the feast day on December 6th. St. Nicholas travels to Holland on a steam ship from Spain. He would leave in mid November and arrive on December 5th. Just in time to place small gifts and treats like pepernoten, chocolate initials, marzipan figures and fruit.  In the past, St. Nicholas carried a Birch switch used to punish children who were naughty and Zwarte Piet was said to put bad children in his sack or would leave them a lump of coal in their shoes instead of treats. Today, St. Nicholas is portrayed as a more gentle figure and Zwarte Piet is a jokester.

Sinterklaas comes to North America:

The tradition of St. Nicholas came to North America with Netherlands Protestant Settlers in New Amsterdam, now New York. At that time, the gift giving at the celebration of St. Nicholas’ feast day was separate from the celebration of Christmas on December 25. It wasn’t until the publication of “twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore that Santa Claus as a “jolly old elf” with reindeer was born. The Santa Claus legend has helpers who are elves and also know “whose naughty and nice”.

Sinterklaas Today:

Today children in Holland still look forward to the arrival of St. Nicholas. Children are told that St. Nicholas is very busy and has many helpers who dress like him and Zwarte Piet so that no child is left out. Children place straw or carrots in their shoes for Schimmel and St. Nicholas replaces these with gifts and treats. Adults will also exchange gifts and usually attach a funny poem or verse. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is celebrated with family gatherings and meals rather than gifts. Although some Dutch people will exchange gifts at that time as well. Another part of the fun is how presents are hidden or disguised. Recipients often have to go on a treasure hunt all over the house, aided by hints, to look for them.

They must be prepared to dig their gifts out of the potato bin, to find them in a jello pudding, in a glove filled with wet sand, in some crazy dummy or doll. Working hard for your presents and working even harder to think up other peoples’ presents and get them ready is what the fun is all about.

In other countries where there are people of Dutch heritage, the tradition of Sinterklaas lives on. In our town, St. Nicholas comes to visit with Zwarte Piet and children sit on his knee and are asked if they have been good. Zwarte Piet always tries to put one of the children in his sack, but always lets them wiggle out again. Treats of pepernoten or ginger snaps, chocolate and candy are given to each child. In many homes that tradition of exchanging chocolate initials of the first letter of each persons name is continued. And we look forward to all the treats available during Sinterklaas time like almond rings (rich pastry wrapped around almond filling) and marzipan (almond confectionary molded into fun shapes). This year, why don’t you celebrate Sinterklaas with us. It is a fun family tradition for adults and kids alike.

A Special Sinterklaas Treat: 

Almond Speculaas:

Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp baking soda
2 tsp milk
½ cup sliced almonds
Preparation:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Mix flour, baking soda, and cinnamon seperately. Add to creamed butter and sugar until combined. Spread dough into foil lined 13×9 inch baking pan. Brush top with milk and sprinkle with almond. Press almonds into dough. Bake at 350 degree pre-heated oven for 15 – 18 minutes or until golden. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into squares. Makes about 36 squares.
If you are going to mold the cookies then ensure that the molds are chilled, oil and flour them lightly to start and then flour lightly after each use. Scraps and trimmings should be refrigerated and used all together at the end.

Sinterklaas Poetry and Surprises:
For more adult company, where each person has gone through the trauma of finding out that Sinterklaas never existed, the presents are just bought by friends and family. Although everybody knows this, the pretense is still kept that they were brought by Sinterklaas. Much trouble is taken to ensure that the giver remain anonymous. Presents should each be accompanied by a poem (gedicht) and are often packaged in a surprise wrapping (called a surprise, pronounced in the French way). Sinterklaas poems should be funny, they might allude to the person receiving the present or to the surprise or both. It is perfectly permissible to poke fun at someone’s habits or personality in a Sinterklaas poem, which explains the need for anonymity… For example, for someone who has terrible trouble getting up in the morning, a surprise might take the shape of a huge alarm clock made out of cardboard (the actual present hidden somewhere inside), with a poem explaining how this present might enable him to finally arrive at work on time. For people with a less subtle sense of humour surprises containing molasses and cotton wool or presents embedded in plaster are popular.
Sinterklaas poems are notoriously bad, since everyone has to write one and not everybody is a gifted poet, or even a mediocre one… Thus, “Sinterklaasgedicht” (Sinterklaas poem) has become a derogatory term for any bad poetry.

Example of Sinterklaas Gedichtijes (poetry): 

Caitlyn,

What do we get
for the one who does everything
so well?
Is it a cute little pet?

Or should it be a game.
That drives mom insane?

Well its said, you know
That the one who
learns like you
Will make the world glow!

So to help you through
this crazy world
With people curled
Here is something true!

Light up the wick
It will light
The whole room over
From the cold prick

Sinterklaas

Essetha
For the kitchen angle
With a twisted angel
We adore your cooking
And the yummy baking
 
May angles always be with you 
As you continue what you do
 
 
Know you are admired
For all the food we‚ve desired!
Sinterklaas

Natassja,
Rick, Ticky, packy
Isn’t this tacky?
To have to read a crazy poem
To those sitting on foam.
This gift isn’t a toy
But it is for you to enjoy
And then it’s to be kept.
And after you have slept
And use it often
So you don’t go to the coffin.
Sinterklaas

Allison,

So what is it you like?
To be in the lime light?

To just dribble a ball?
To blow kisses to all?

Yes, sure but that’s not all
For we have heard your call.

You have been so very kind
To the seeing and the blind

Get on the galiant horse
Continue on this course

Of spreading great good cheer
To all those that will hear.

Sinterklaas

Samantha,

To one that is so bright
Here is something quite right.

Use your skills
and many frills

Rub this in
And you may begin

To teach others
How to be brothers.

Sinterklaas

Kira,
You are full of spark
And have made your mark.
Use the force of light 
To make the world bright.
Remember all those times
Without many dimes
Just good ol’ fun
When all is done.
Sinterklaas

To Leslie,

A Mother of Many
A Friendly Fellow
A Simple Smile
A Wife of a Wonder
A Silly Storyteller
A Nifty Nurse
A Busy Bus driver
A Tender Teacher
A Lively Listener,

For one so busy
And in a tizzy,
You must be in need
And not just greed
Of something to bring
Peace when life stings

Sinterklaas

Karisa,

Having stress?
Don’t make a mess
Just squeeze if you please
This bit of a ball
Till that tension is small

I’ve tried and I’ve tried
and I just couldn’t get better
So this is what you get
in this silly little letter.
Zwarte Piete

Morgan,

For the kitchen angle
With a twisted angel 
 
May angles always be with you 
As you continue what you do
The cooking and stirring
And all while singing!
Sinterklaas

Abigail,

This gift I bring
It does not ring
It does not ting
Nor does it ping.

But it does burn
And it will turn
A queen into
A big black shoe.

You have been fine
Lay it on the line
This gift to make
Is for you to take
Home and create
And imaginate.

Some thing we know
Your Tremindo!

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas Gedichtijes may be