Christmas celebrations in The Netherlands do not include a visit from Sinterklaas. Christmas and St. Nicholas Day both occur in December, but on different days. I grew up with that tradition and like it. For most children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is the 5th of December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents.
St. Nicholas’ Day is December 6, but in The Netherlands, the major celebrations are held on December 5. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas.
The second Saturday of November Sinterklaas travels to a city or town in The Netherlands. Dutch tradition says that St. Nicholas lives in Madrid, Spain and every year he chooses a different harbour to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him.
Sinterklaas travels with his servants called ‘Zwarte Pieten’. When Sinterklaas and the Zwarte Pieten come ashore, all the local church bells ring in celebration. Sinterklaas, dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding a white horse. Every town in The Netherlands has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinterklaas who help give the presents out. Sometimes you might see a few Zwarte Pieten with Sinterklaas!
The Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet dates back centuries. Dressed in flamboyant clothing, Zwarte Piet is a goofy, singing, candy-giving Renaissance-clad figure with a black face, giant red lips and a curly black wig. In recent years the tradition has come under fire in The Netherlands by many who say it’s a relic of a racist history.
Zwarte Piet was in the news in Ottawa last week. A Dutch grocer in Ottawa will have Sinterklaas make his yearly appearance as he’s done for 60 years, but for the first time his blackface helper Zwarte Piet won’t be with him. The Ottawa Citizen reported that the anti-Zwarte Piet movement in Ottawa has been led by the Caribbean Union of Canada and Solidarity Ottawa.
Who is next, Santa’s elves? Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are a tradition. It has nothing to do with racism. NOTHING!
On the evening that Sinterklaas arrives in The Netherlands, children leave a shoe out by the fireplace or sometimes a windowsill and sing Sinterklaas songs. They hope that Sinterklaas will come during the night with some presents. They also believe that if they leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas’s horse, they will be left some sweets or small presents. They’re told that during the night, Sinterklaas rides on the roofs on his horse and that a ‘Zwarte Piet’ will then go down the chimney (or through a window) and put the presents and/or candy in their shoes.
On December 6 Sinterklaas leaves the Netherlands by steamboat via the entrance of the port of Rotterdam and he travels back to Spain.
Christmas Day is a much quieter day in The Netherlands, with a church service and a family meal. No Santa Claus! And that’s how I like Christmas!
