Santa!

Christmas is a little bit different here. In particular, Sinterklaas is pretty different than Santa Claus.

Santa (USA):

• Comes on a sleigh pulled by reindeer
• Comes once, on December 25th
• Lives at the North Pole
• Has elves for helpers
• Not officially celebrated in school.
• The “holidays” are a sensitive cultural/religious/political topic.
• Red and green colors for decorations.
• Visit completely overlaps with the religious holiday of Christmas.

Sinterklaas (Netherlands):

• Comes by steam boat from Spain.
• Arrives in the Netherlands in a very large, public ceremony on the first Saturday after November 11th. The event is broadcast on TV and is sort of like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. News reporters, crowds, etc.
• Visits small towns in very public events over the next couple of days/weeks. Ours is today at 2:30pm.
• Has “Pieten” as helpers. I’m not sure why they are called Pieten, but they are humans. They go up and down Chimneys, not Santa, so they have ash on them. They used to be called “black Pieten” because of the dust on them, but that became political so now they are just Pieten. Several Pieten came to our door and gave the kids some cookies and candy.
• Delivers small gifts (candy, small toys, notes) a few times a week to kids who leave a shoe by the fireplace.
• Delivers large gifts on Dec. 6, after which he goes home.
• Lots of Sinterklaas decorations at school. The kids watch videos in school about his trip to the Netherlands (there is a disaster every year that almost stops him from making it; this year his ship sunk, but they got on a backup ship and arrived safely).
• Likes all colors. Wears a red robe, but decorations are all sorts of bright colors.
• Wears a tall hat with a cross on it.
• After Sinterklaas leaves, we take down Sinterklaas decorations and put up lights and a tree to celebrate Christmas. Sinterklaas is just helping us get ready for Christmas, but he leaves in time to not be in the way.
• I think people give each other presents on Christmas, but Sinterklaas does not come back.

Unfortunately, I only just found out about the December 6th thing. I had previously seen that the kids had the day off of school, but I assumed it was just a teacher prep day. I say it is unfortunate, because I booked a flight at 9am that day to go present a paper in Switzerland. Who knew that I would be gone when Sinterklaas came? I guess we’ll have to figure out a creative solution (maybe he’ll leave a note saying that since we are Americans he will come on Dec. 25).

UPDATE: apparently Sinterklaas comes on the afternoon/evening of December 5th and leaves presents somewhere in the house or at the door or something. Then he heads home on the 6th. So, The evening of the 5th is the big night where everyone opens presents. The kids have the 6th off to recover and to play with their toys. So,