Sinterklaas (also known as Sint Nicolaas) is a traditional Winter holiday figure in Dutch-speaking Europe (The Netherlands and Flanders), and is also well known in the former Dutch colonies. Every year he is celebrated in The Netherlands, were the major celebrations are held on the 5th of December, St. Nicholas' Eve.
For children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is the 5th, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents during the night!
Sinterklaas is the basis of the mythical holiday figure of Santa Claus in the United States and has nothing to do with Christmas. On the evening of December 5, children put a shoe at the chimney or the windowsill. They leave some hay and carrots in their shoe for Sinterklass' horse, and sing a Sinterklass song before going to sleep, hoping that Sinterklaas will put a present in their shoe.
They're told that, during the night, Sinterklaas rides on his horse across the roofs and that his helper 'Zwarte Piet' will then climb down the chimney (or through the window) and put presents and/or candy in their shoes if they have been good.
Dutch tradition says that St. Nicholas lives in Madrid, Spain and each year he chooses a different harbour at which to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him.
When Sinterklaas and his helpers, 'Zwarte Pieten' come ashore from the boat, all of the local church bells ring in celebration. Sinterklaas, dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding his white horse.
Children are told that the Zwarte Pieten keep a record of all the things they have done in the past year in a big book. Good children will get presents from Sinterklaas, but bad children will receive coal.
Sinterklaas parties are often held on St. Nicholas' Eve (5th), where games are played and delicious Dutch sweets such as banket and pepernoot are eaten.
On the 6th of December (the birthday of Sinterklaas) Sinterklaas leaves The Netherlands by steamboat via the entrance of the port of Rotterdam (Europe’s largest port) called the Hook of Holland and he travels back to Spain.
Because ohjoy! is Dutch, we hope you will join her to celebrate St. Nicholas Eve at Dirty Dave's Pizza Parlour between 6 and 8 pm.
pioneer woman and ohjoy! have prepared Sinterklaas bags for this celebration. Some contain gifts and others only coal. By a random draw, each cacher (caching name) attending the party will receive one of the bags. Then we'll all know if you've been good or bad this past year. Should there be extra bags, they will go to those without their own caching name in a separate random drawing.
Each caching name with a "will attend" log by 5 pm December 4 will have a greater chance of not getting coal, as that will help with how much space to reserve. They are good, right?
ohjoy! learned a song from her immigrant grandmother - Sinterklaas kapoentje. As a young child, she sang it each December 5 before going to bed.
Sinterklaas, kapoentje
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Breng wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank je Sinterklaasje.