Who is Sinterklaas?
Every November children in the Netherlands eagerly await the arrival of Sinterklaas on 5 December. Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children and, for as long as the Dutch can remember, he travels from Spain to the Netherlands to celebrate the name day of St. Nicholas here.
Although 5 December is not an official holiday in the Netherlands, many parents traditionally leave work early so that they can celebrate 'pakjesavond' (evening when presents are given) with their children. Presents are ingeniously wrapped, and are therefore called surprises. Traditionally these presents are accompanied by a poem written by St. Nicholas.
In the weeks leading up to 5 December, Dutch schools, shops and neighbourhood associations organise all kinds of festivities including the appearance of Sinterklaas and a few of his helpers (Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete).
Because he brings presents to all children, he is often compared to Father Christmas and Santa Claus. Unlike Father Christmas, however, he does not travel on a sleigh pulled by reindeer – oh no! Saint Nicholas’ preferred means of transport is a large steamboat (to make the journey from Spain to the Netherlands) and his horse called Americo (to visit all the cities, towns and villages in the Netherlands).
While pakjesavond is the main family celebration with poems and surprises, children often set out their shoe by the fireplace at night along with a bowl of water and a carrot for Americo. Often they'll wake in the morning to find a little gift in their shoe and the water and carrot mysteriously gone.