A few holidays we've been celebrating:St. Maarten
St. Maarten was a bishop that helped poor people by giving them food. He is celebrated on the evening of November 11.
Children go by the doors with paper lanterns, mostly homemade, and sing songs about St. Martin (Sint
Maarten) and about their lantern in return for a treat ie. candy, similar to Halloween. It is so cute to see the children sing at your door! Allie and Tessa couldn't pass up the chance to practice their Dutch singing and of course, get a few pieces of candy.
St. Maarten was a bishop that helped poor people by giving them food. He is celebrated on the evening of November 11.
Children go by the doors with paper lanterns, mostly homemade, and sing songs about St. Martin (Sint
Maarten) and about their lantern in return for a treat ie. candy, similar to Halloween. It is so cute to see the children sing at your door! Allie and Tessa couldn't pass up the chance to practice their Dutch singing and of course, get a few pieces of candy.
SinterklaasSinterklaas (also called Sint Nikolaas) is a holiday tradition in the Netherlands, celebrated every year on the evening of December 5. Sinterklaas has a long white beard, wears a red bishop's dress and red mitre (bishop's hat), and holds a crosier, a long gold colored staff with a fancy curled top. Sinterklaas carries a big book with all the children's names in it, which states whether they have been good or naughty (zoet or stout.) He also rides a white horse called Amerigo over the rooftops.
Sinterklaas is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colorful outfits. These helpers are called Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes) in Dutch. During the Middle Ages, Zwarte Piet was a name for the devil. Having triumphed over evil, it was said that on Saint Nicholas' eve, the devil was shackled and made his slave. Later, Black Pete came to acquire racial connotations, and his character has been reworked since then. From about 1850, Pete
was said to be an imported African servant of Saint Nicholas. Today however, a more politically correct explanation is given: Pete's face is said to be "black from soot" (as Pete has to climb down chimneys to deliver his gifts). Nevertheless, the tradition has been accused of being racist, and attempts have been made to introduce Gekleurde Pieten (Colored Petes), who are colored blue, red, instead of black. This phenomenon of "Colored Petes" was introduced nationally in 2006 with the explanation that Sinterklaas passed through a rainbow.
was said to be an imported African servant of Saint Nicholas. Today however, a more politically correct explanation is given: Pete's face is said to be "black from soot" (as Pete has to climb down chimneys to deliver his gifts). Nevertheless, the tradition has been accused of being racist, and attempts have been made to introduce Gekleurde Pieten (Colored Petes), who are colored blue, red, instead of black. This phenomenon of "Colored Petes" was introduced nationally in 2006 with the explanation that Sinterklaas passed through a rainbow. 
Sinterklass arrives in Holland in mid-November, from Spain, where he spends the rest of the year. I hear they have a little more sunshine in Spain than here. There are parades throughout the city where he is led in a procession of Black Petes that are riding bikes, playing in marching bands and we even saw a steel drum band! I can't tell you how strange this is to see. As I have said before, never in the States....Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and December 5th, before going to bed,
children put their shoes next to the fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it "for Sinterklaas's horse", sing a Sinterklaas song, and find some candy in their shoes the next day, thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas. Typical Sinterklaas candy is the first letter of the child's name made out of chocolate, chocolate coins, a figurine of Sinterklaas or Black Pete, and colored marzipan shaped into fruit, an animal or some other object. Saint Nicholas brings his gifts at night on December 5 (Saint Nicholas' eve), known as Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond (present evening). There will be a loud knock on the door, and a sack full of presents is found on the doorstep.
children put their shoes next to the fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it "for Sinterklaas's horse", sing a Sinterklaas song, and find some candy in their shoes the next day, thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas. Typical Sinterklaas candy is the first letter of the child's name made out of chocolate, chocolate coins, a figurine of Sinterklaas or Black Pete, and colored marzipan shaped into fruit, an animal or some other object. Saint Nicholas brings his gifts at night on December 5 (Saint Nicholas' eve), known as Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond (present evening). There will be a loud knock on the door, and a sack full of presents is found on the doorstep.
Allie and Tessa's quick explaination: "Sinterklaas is only for the Dutch kids, because Santa Claus still comes here on Christmas. Sinterklaas is a friend/cousin of Santa and helps him out so he doesn't have so much to do on Christmas Eve. I'm sticking with a fat, jolly man that can circle the globe and deliver presents to all kiddos, rather than a man that only comes to the Dutch kids and summers in Spain.
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