Sinterklaas
It is the most beloved of all the traditional holidays in Holland.
The story goes that Sinterklaas originally came from Turkey in the 3rd century as St. Nicolaus.
He was an honourable man who was kind and helpful to the children in his town. He eventually took up residence in Spain. From there he sets sail, and sails down the Amstel River. When he lands, he is greeted by the major of Amsterdam and mounts his horse and parades down the street.
He has his helpers and they are a bunch of guys with dark faces and they throw things at people.
Zwarte Piet or Dark Peter
It is said that his face is dark from the soot while going down chimneys to put food in the children's wooden shoes. During the parade they throw cookies and candies to everyone.
On the eve of December 5 the children place their shoes or Klompen (wooden shoes) by the fireplace or by the door to have them filled with candy and or fruit. If the child was bad they got coal in their wooden shoes.
Today the Dutch exchange their gifts on the eve of Dec 5. The adults write sarcastic poems to each other. On December 25 they have a meal with family but do not exchange gifts.
There is a little girl from Holland who was adopted by a family in New York who has a visit with Santa Claus. This is one of my favourite scenes of the movie.
Sinterklaas, kapoentje
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank U Sinterklaasje
The translation is:
Saint Nicolas Little Rascal,
Put something in my little shoe,
Put something in my little boot,
Thank you little Saint Nicolas!
This is a Dutch tradition, and traditions can seem harmless. In the Bible the Pharisees had many traditions but they were not harmless, they enslaved people by giving them a false sense of hope.
There are many people like that today. It is so easy to do. Any ritual that is done apart from God is just a vain tradition.
Saint Nicolas Little Rascal,
Put something in my little shoe,
Put something in my little boot,
Thank you little Saint Nicolas!
This is a Dutch tradition, and traditions can seem harmless. In the Bible the Pharisees had many traditions but they were not harmless, they enslaved people by giving them a false sense of hope.
There are many people like that today. It is so easy to do. Any ritual that is done apart from God is just a vain tradition.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one![a] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
There are things that we are to pass down to our children, but if Jesus is not a part of our "traditions", we are not doing them any favours.
This Christmas, ensure that every part of your celebrating has Jesus in the centre of it.
Blessings, DianeThere are things that we are to pass down to our children, but if Jesus is not a part of our "traditions", we are not doing them any favours.
This Christmas, ensure that every part of your celebrating has Jesus in the centre of it.
Diane ~ amen to that. and I am so thrilled to see the story of Sinterklaas. I am dutch too and remember the story well. Really, we are all so blessed that Jesus was born Christmas Day to give his life for us. What great love. May his blessings flow this Christmas season. HE is the reason for the season, not toys or gifts, but HIS great gift of love given to each and every one of us.
ReplyDeleteWell it seems like we have more in common than just a love for vintage! We should meet up some time!!
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