In the Netherlands, he is kind of a poor relative to Sinterklaas. Nov 8, 2019 - Explore Cathy Smith's board "Dutch Christmas foods", followed by 164 people on Pinterest. Coolblue has an amazing collection of technology and electronics that are sure to be at a great price. - www.whychristmas.com, You can find out more about the history of Zwarte Pieten on the site of the St Nicholas Center, Here's a recipe for kerstkrans, a Dutch Christmas Ring Cake, Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages. Loved this article! Sinterklaas Dresses Like a Catholic Bishop. December 26th is called “Tweede Kerstdag” meaning “Boxing Day”. As his prominence grew, Sinter Klaas was described as everything from a “rascal” with a blue three-cornered hat, red waistcoat, and yellow stockings to a man wearing a broad-brimmed hat and a “huge pair of Flemish trunk hose.”. , this might be the first time you experience Dutch Christmas. This is because the Dutch celebrate Saint Nicholas on 5 December during Sinterklaas as a separate event from Christmas. Among others, you’ll hear such traditional Dutch Christmas songs as Sinterklaas, Goed Heilig Man (Saint Nicholas, Good Holy Man), Hoor de Wind Waait de Bomen (The wind keeps blowing), Hoor Wie Stapt Daar Kinderen (Someone is coming, children). I probably wouldn’t have gotten enough info for my project without it. I miss much of such a cultured areas as we immigrated to Canada many years ago. While the Dutch don’t refer to the day after Christmas as Boxing Day, they do retain the tradition of the Christmas box or package (kerstpakket). You can find out more about the history of Zwarte Pieten on the site of the St Nicholas Center. As an international student most likely you’ve noticed that Dutch Christmas songs are played on the radio, in the shopping malls and Christmas markets. Christmas. After reading this great information provided, I have a better understanding. Sometimes there is a special Christmas Day 'Sunday School' in the afternoon at the church, where the Christmas Story and other traditional stories are told. Tips for Befriending Dutch Students Everyone Should Know about, Stay Informed in Eindhoven: Top 5 Reasons to Read Eindhoven News. They're told that, during the night, Sinterklaas rides on the roofs on his horse and that a Piet will then climb down the chimney (or through a window) and put the presents and/or candy in their shoes. On December 5, people in the Netherlands celebrate, (St. Nicholas) eve. Moreover, he’s accompanied by the controversial Black Peter (. It was nice to read…. every Saturday until the main Sinterklaas party on 5th December. On the second day people tend to visit their families and big shops are also often open on Tweede Kerstdag. Usually it is celebrated with ones direct, and not extended, family. Check out Coolblue for interesting light arrangements like this Phillips lightstrip. This is because elsewhere it’s common to spend the 26th at the local shopping malls hunting Boxing Day deals. Christmas Day itself is a much quieter day in The Netherlands, with a Church Service and family meal. The Dutch love their trees – in fact they love Christmas decorations in general. A dear teacher friend of ours wanted to share with her class what Christmas was like in the Netherlands. The biscuits are made in the shapes of the first letter of the peoples names who are at the party. The unique tradition here includes Sinterklaas Avond which is celebrated annually on December 5 as St. Nicholas’ birthday. Have you noticed an interesting Dutch Christmas tradition? While it may seem similar to what you know, Christmas is not about Santa Claus and reindeer in the Netherlands. In 1804, John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts of St. Nicholas at the society’s annual meeting. Thanks again. 6. It’s for good luck. This is a Christmas gift box that bosses distribute to their staff shortly before Christmas as a traditional sign of gratification for the hard work performed in the past year. And Here's a recipe for kerstkrans, a Dutch Christmas Ring Cake. It’s a very good point for people to discuss on! Christmas traditions include a variety of customs, religious practices, rituals, and folklore associated with the celebration of Christmas.Many of these traditions vary by country or region, while others are universal and practiced in a virtually ubiquitous manner across the world.. The presents are often things that the person would find useful with their favorite hobby. Sinterklaas Sinterklaas is St Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors and many others as well. This is the day where families gather, have dinner together and exchange presents. In the Netherlands, he is kind of a poor relative to Sinterklaas. While Sinterklaas can be considered as the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus, it has some differences. Christmas in Netherland is celebrated for two consecutive days, i.e. December 25th and 26th, which are both observed as public holidays. New Year For instance, Sinterklaas is not a chubby man, he’s rather tall and slim, he wears a dark red robe and a hat that resembles a bishop’s attire. If you work in a Dutch company, you will most likely receive the annual kerstpakket. Thank you for the remarks and detailed explanation on the history of Sinterklaas. Sinterklass travels with his servants called 'Zwarte Pieten' ('Black Peters') or 'Sooty Pieten'/'Roetpieten' (Sooty or Chimney Peters). The largest of these is the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN), a United church which is Reformed and Lutheran in orientation. Amsterdam is a city without prejudice, a city of free and open-minded people. 1. During Dutch Christmas people spend two days with their family, playing games, watching movies and eating some traditional Christmas food. Christmas trees Tradition has it that Christmas trees don’t make an appearance in the Netherlands until after Sinterklaas, so as soon as the Sint has left, the tree sellers move in. They also receive most of their presents on Sinterklaas. comes from Lapland in Finland to deliver more presents! Christmas in Dutch is celebrated over two days which are referred to as the First and Second day of Christmas (25th and 26th December). A Dutch Christmas is similar to the experience in other western, predominantly-Christian countries: Christmas in the Netherlands is typified by family gatherings, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the eating of fine food and drink and in some – but not all families – the arrival of Santa Claus (Kerstman in Dutch) and the giving of gifts. Surprise presents are also given on St. Nicholas' Day. See more ideas about dutch recipes, food, recipes. I needed this information for a school project. The first Christmas Day, i.e. . They hope that Sinterklaas will come during the night with some presents. Holiday Traditions of Netherlands Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas traditions in Netherland is typically defined by celebration of birth of Jesus, family gatherings, good food and drinks, arrival of Santa and the exchange of gifts. These days are spent with relatives, singing carols, watching movies, participating in feasts, and reading Christmas stories. These examples all belong to the traditional dinner during Christmas in The Netherlands. Dutch tradition says that St. Nicholas lives in Madrid, Spain and every year he chooses a different harbour to arrive in The Netherlands, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him. In Dutch Happy/Merry Christmas can be said as 'Prettige Kerst' (Happy Christmas), 'Zalig Kerstfeest' or 'Zalig Kerstmis' (both mean Merry Christmas) or 'Vrolijk Kerstfeest' (Cheerful Christmas). The distribution of kerstpakketten comes from a historical tradition - the gift of food that was given to farm workers to take home to their families for Christmas. Good children will get presents from Sinterklaas, but bad children will be put in a sack and the Piets take them to Spain for a year to teach them how to behave! In many families the children are told that Sinterklaas and a Piet make a weekly visit, so the children leave their shoe by the fireplace or window i.e. For most children in The Netherlands, the most important day during December is 5th December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents! As an international student, this might be the first time you experience Dutch Christmas. When Sinterklaas and the Piets come ashore from the steam boat, all of the local church bells ring in celebration. Without the Dutch Sinterklaas, there would likely have not been a Santa Claus. The Christmas story comes from the Bible. The tradition evolved here (as it did in the UK), from a gift of food for farm workers to take home to their families after Christmas, to an annual gift for tradesmen. St. Nicholas made his first inroads into American popular culture towards the end of the 18th century. Now that that is out … The horns make an eerie noise as they are blown at every farm in the neighborhood. During Dutch Christmas people spend two days with their family, playing games, watching movies and eating some traditional Christmas food. © Copyright 2000 - 2021 James Cooper | About the site | Cookies & Privacy | Site Map | Other Links | Support | Website logistics by LetterBlock | Proud Affiliate of the Merry Network, whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions! It’s such a good reminder of a time when I was in Nederland as a very little girl. Christmas Day is known as 'Eerste Kerstdag' (first Christmas day) and the day after Christmas is called 'Tweede Kerstdag' (second Christmas day). In fact, Dutch Christmas traditions have some particular elements that you should be aware of in this festive season. The first thing that tourists associate with the Netherlands is the legal sale of light drugs in coffeeshops. If you're ambitious enough to learn a Dutch Christmas song yourself, visit. What’s Christmas without some delicious food? Nowadays, working people in the Netherlands still receive gifts from their company, and often those are food baskets. comes from a historical tradition - the gift of food that was given to farm workers to take home to their families for Christmas. If you work in a Dutch company, you will most likely receive the annual, . Connect with us and tell about it! People put them up in public spaces and their living rooms and decorate them with lights and ornaments. As a matter of fact, to some international students this might seem strange. The distribution of. Moreover, he’s accompanied by the controversial Black Peter (Zwarte Piet), his assistant whose face is covered with soot and who's the one going down the chimney to leave gifts for children. This is an eve when Sinterklaas visits the homes of every child and leaves them some gifts and treats to enjoy. Thank you again. Christmas celebrations in The Netherlands are separate from the visit of Sinterklaas! Sinterklaas parties are often held on St. Nicholas' Eve (5th), where treasure hunt games are played with poems and riddles giving the clues. Despite the fact that around 50% of Dutch people exchange presents on Christmas, Kerstman is still less popular than Sinterklaas. My Dutch friend Jan, has told me that they celebrate the Holiday season starting from December 05th. These are often the only presents children will get on Christmas Day because they have already received most of their presents on St. Nicholas Day. St. Nicholas' Day is on the 6th December, but in The Netherlands, the major … Every town in The Netherlands has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinterklaas and the Piets who help give the presents out. Every article I read about this subject, people seem to think that Sinterklaas is the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus. Christmas dinners in The Netherlands Yummy Dutch is a webshop with typical Dutch products.On this page you can read all our blog posts and recipes. It all starts on the second Saturday of November (the first Saturday after 11th November) when Sinterklaas travels to a city or town in The Netherlands. While there are many Christmas traditions that are similar in more than one place, each country has its own variations and the Netherlands is not an exception. Children follow the clues to find little presents left by Sinterklaas. I lost my mama this year and my Dutch heritage means more than ever. Every year, about three weeks before December… Thank you from Hawaii where we say: “Mele Kalikimaka” Merry Christmas! In the eastern part of Holland, farm families announce the coming of Christmas from the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas, until Christmas Eve by blowing a horn made from hollow elder-tree branches. Sinterklaas, dressed in his red robes, leads a procession through the town, riding a white horse. Thank you for your posting. Some of the typical treats are: Music has an important role in Dutch Christmas traditions. Among others, you’ll hear such traditional Dutch Christmas songs as, (Someone is coming, children). Great information on this that I am using to teach about The Netherlands at our children’s Christmas Around The World Event at church. Furthermore, Dutch also have their own Father Christmas or Santa Claus called Kerstman. Protestantism in the Netherlands consists of a number of churches within various traditions. Over Christmas, hundreds of oliebollen street vendors pop up around the Netherlands and prepare these tasty pastries from inside dedicated food trucks. That is very true, and I wish this would be updated accordingly. This is a Christmas gift box that bosses distribute to their staff shortly before Christmas as a traditional sign of gratification for the hard work performed in the past year. On December 5, people in the Netherlands celebrate Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) eve. Many people now don't like the use of 'Zwarte Piet', this is because the helpers who dress up as Zwarte Pieten are normally white people who wear black makeup as this is seen as racist. Among the Dutch, Christmas (which lasts two days) is a time of togetherness. On the 6th of December Sinterklaas (the birthday of Sinterklaas) leaves The Netherlands by steamboat via the entrance of the port of Rotterdam (Europeâs largest port) called the Hook of Holland and he travels back to Spain. The International Student’s Guide To Dutch Christmas Traditions, https://collegelife.co/nl/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2019/02/logo.png, https://collegelife.co/nl/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/12/saint-nicholas-2934899_1280.jpg. While Sinterklaas can be considered as the Dutch equivalent of Santa Claus, it has some differences. The traditional way to eat with the family is called 'gourmetten', which is a little stove that is put on the table and where everyone prepares their own meal while seated. Don’t feel alarmed if you’re presented with a number of small uncooked pieces of meat - for Christmas in the Netherlands, everyone sits down at the dining room table and cooks their own food. In the Netherlands, people celebrate Christmas both on the 25th and the 26th of December. A custom at the Sinterklaas parties, often within classes at schools, is that everyone's name is put into a hat and everyone picks another person's name - then they have to make a surprise present for that person. While there are many Christmas traditions that are similar in more than one place, each country has its own variations and the Netherlands is not an exception. I wish I could experience it as it’s not so commercialized as it is here in the USA, Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages. I was always curious as to the Celebration of Christmas in the Netherlands. 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