International students on the tradition of 'Sinterklaas': 'Honestly, he is a bit creepy'
International students who’ve been in the Netherlands this winter might’ve noticed a peculiar Christmas-y craze in early December. Presents, sweets, chocolate letters, and unusually dressed feathered people can be spotted all over Enschede, Deventer and Apeldoorn. This can only mean one thing: Sinterklaas.
Sinterklaas is a Dutch holiday that is celebrated every winter in late November and early December. It is a holiday based on the patron Saint of children (among other things), Saint Nicholas, who is called Sinterklaas in Dutch. He gives out gifts to children together with his companion, (black) Pete and his loyal grey horse Ozosnel. Before Saint Nicholas gives the big presents on December the 5th, the children of the Netherlands can offer up their shoes under the chimney. Inside the shoe should be whatever you want to offer up to the Saint: wishlists, letters, drawings, or even a snack for Saint Nicholas’ horse! During the night, Nicholas’ helpers go through children’s homes and leave them candy or a small gift, if they’ve been nice this year.
This tradition is well-known in the Netherlands and celebrated all over the country. But what do international students of Saxion know about it? We interviewed some students to test their Sinterklaas-knowledge.
Jordan Spencer - British - Physiotherapy
“I am actually not 100% sure what Sinterklaas is. Sometimes I get the feeling it’s just the Dutch version of Santa Claus, like Saint Nick. But then again Dutch people also celebrate Christmas. I know tradition-wise, there’s a big parade through the streets. The first year I lived here, I lived in Hengelo and I could see the Sinterklaas-parade from my balcony. Some parts of Sinterklaas are quite weird for me. Kids can get treats like chocolate letters and things like… kruudnoten? Little biscuits! You also visit your family and everyone gets one gift, like secret Santa?
The background story of Sinterklaas is unknown to me, I feel like it’s the same as Saint Nick. He walks around with the same staff as Saint Nick! Oh and of course, Zwarte Piet. The background story of that one is kinda interesting? There’s a lot of different views and opinions on it. But I don’t know why Zwarte Piet exists.
Oh, and kids put carrots in their shoes? I really don’t know why. Maybe just like Christmas, you give carrots to the reindeer but I don’t see Sinterklaas walking around with any reindeer. But apparently, also, Dutch people invented orange carrots for the royal family."
Nico Baum- German Creative Business - Audiovisual Design
“I only know that it’s about Saint Nicholas. He secretly gave gifts to poor people and that we are celebrating on the 6th of December. I’ve never heard about putting carrots in their shoes at Sinterklaas. Is that a Dutch thing? Maybe kids think he likes carrots?
Also, children that sing at the chimney. It’s the only entrance in a house that isn’t locked, right? So it’s the only way in for Sinterklaas.”
Anna Niebrügge - German - International Business
“I don’t know a lot about it. In German, he’s called Sankt Nikolaus. He comes from Spain on a boat with his tiny slaves, who throw pepernoten at you. People dress up like them, even with the black faces. I think Sinterklaas climbs church towers? Is that how he sends the presents?
Because we also celebrate it, it wasn’t a big culture shock. But I do recognize it’s way bigger here, but I haven’t seen the big events that are held. The helpers sure are different. It looks very racist. Dutch people keep calling it chimney smoke but some of the costumes I’ve seen had like lipstick and earrings. We also put our shoes under the chimney in Germany, but we put boots up, because then you get more candy."
Yevhenii Derevianko - Ukrainian - Creative Media & Game Technologies
“I saw it for the first time when I came here with my family to Amsterdam. I didn’t understand it at all until a Dutch student explained it to me. To me, it’s just another variation of Santa Claus like in a lot of other countries. He’s just a big kind old man that gives presents. I didn’t understand the helpers though. Dutch people keep telling me that they’re just black because of the coal but it looks exactly like those fake black people in old American movies. It’s weird, but it’s kind of funny. Of course, it’s weird, but it’s so funny to me that the entire country just doesn’t talk about it and goes like “Yeah it’s a problem” and nothing else.
But I don’t share the excitement with other Dutch students. It’s not much of a holiday for me, more just a “happening” in stores and stuff, because it stretches out for such a long time.”
Niki Konings - Dutch-Malaysian - Creative Media & Game Technologies
“I celebrated Sinterklaas privately with my family in Malaysia, which was already weird. Because my first thought as a kid was: How can this dude go from the Netherlands to Malaysia on a horse in time to bring around presents? It also felt a bit weird to celebrate this winter holiday when it was very tropical and warm in my home at the time. My parents always told me black Pete was also just normal in the Netherlands, but I never understood it. Honestly, Sinterklaas is a bit creepy too.
The one thing I was always excited about was the chocolate letters. My parents had to buy them whenever they were in the Netherlands, because shipping them to Malaysia was difficult. I love the chocolate-covered pepernoten as well.”
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