When is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands?
When is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands?
A different place to set foot on dry land is judiciously chosen every year. Sinterklaas always arrives on a Saturday at least three weeks before December 5 so you have lots of time to spend money on presents. Once Sinterklaas is actually in the country, the fun can begin.
What is Sinterklaas and why is it important?
Food is an important part of Sinterklaas and the giving of speculaas (spiced biscuits, often in the form of the saint) dates back centuries. The sale of Sinterklaas goodies seems to start earlier every year, and if you have not got your chocolate letters in yet, you will find you are left with a choice of S or P (for Sint and Piet).
What do the Dutch drink at Sinterklaas?
The tipple for a Sinterklaas feast is bisschopswijn, or mulled wine. Although there’s a shift towards present-giving at Christmas, some 60% of Dutch households still celebrate Sinterklaas, especially ones with small children.
What does Sinterklaas fill your shoes with?
In the days leading up to the 5th of December, children put their shoes in front of the fire (or the radiator) in the hope that Sinterklaas will fill it with a small present or a chocolate goody. Some children think they can get around the Sint by leaving a carrot for the bishop’s horse, accompanied by a wish list.
The festivities traditionally begin each year in mid-November (the first Saturday after 11 November), when Sinterklaas “arrives” by a steamboat at a designated seaside town, supposedly from Spain. In the Netherlands this takes place in a different port each year, whereas in Belgium it always takes place in the city of Antwerp.
What kind of Piet does Sinterklaas use?
In modern adaptations for television, Sinterklaas has developed a Zwarte Piet for every function, such as a head Piet ( Hoofdpiet ), a navigation Piet ( Wegwijspiet) to navigate the steamboat from Spain to the Netherlands, a gift-wrapping Piet ( Pakjespiet) to wrap all the gifts, and an acrobatic Piet to climb roofs and chimneys.
What is Sinterklaasavond (gifts evening)?
The evening is called Sinterklaasavond (“Sinterklaas evening”) or Pakjesavond (“gifts evening”, or literally “packages evening”). On the evening of 5 December, parents, family, friends or acquaintences pretend to act on behalf of “Sinterklaas”, or his helpers, and fool the children into thinking…
What is Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond?
In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas’ Eve, 5 December, became the chief occasion for gift-giving during the winter holiday season. The evening is called Sinterklaasavond (“Sinterklaas evening”) or Pakjesavond (“gifts evening”, or literally “packages evening”).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5g-vNJ55U
