Dear visitors,
I selected two sites for you with plenty information of Sinterklaas. The first one is in Dutch only. As you will see, you can design your Sinterklaaspoems, play games, find out how the steam engine of his nostalgic boat works, etc.
The second one is for our international friends, as there is also an English version.
Have fun!
Geo Stork
4 comments:
I agree that Sinterklaas is a nice tradition because it is really a Dutch celebration. It’s something that happens in Holland only. (although Sinterklaas himself lives in Spain)
This how it works: There is a bishop called Sint Nicolaas, who comes over every year to give presents to all kids who belief in him. It happens like this: the children put there shoe under the chimney. They put letters and sometimes a carrot (for the horse schimmel). In the night when the children sleep sinterklaas puts a present in the shoe. Of course it are actually the parents who do this put the children love it. If you are older but still celebrate it you do a sow called ”surprise” you put your name on al little piece of paper and but it in a box. You grab a paper from the box and make something funny or nice and hide the present in it. Then that person has to try to find the present. It`s nice if your present is nice.
The official date of sinterklaas:He comes in the country the 17th of November. The 5th of December it’s ‘pakjes avond” (translated: presents night) when he is giving the presents. He has also got people who help him “pieten” it are people who have a very dark skin and wear funny outfits and al the time give candy and chocolate and stuff. This is how we celebrate sinterklaas.
My opinion:
I think it’s a nice thing for the younger kids. And it’s always nice to get presents. But sometimes the “pieten” don’t wanna give any candy to the older kids that’s really bad. But I still understand it. And absolutely don’t tell the smaller kids they would be very disappointed.
Greetings!! Lan from Holland
Hello Holland
We don’t have Sinterklaas in North America, but a few Dutch families will celebrate his arrival. Instead we are now in our materialistic frenzy of spending too much money on gifts that most people don’t need (and some don’t even want). This really gets interesting once the Americans have their Thanksgiving (which was last week). It is the start of their shopping season, and there were fights at the stores and parking lots over gift buying.
That is the extreme situation though. Most people (I hope) are spending a reasonable amount of money to buy a meaningful gift for a loved one or friend, looking forward to spending time with family, and celebrating the Christmas season.
My daughter Colleen, who is 13, probably does not believe in Santa Claus. But she does not say anything. At our house, Santa does not leave gifts for those who do not believe. Kate, who is 5, definitely still believes, and we work to keep this mystery alive.
By the way, I still believe too :-)
My daughter would probably like to experience Sinterklaas in the Netherlands, Christmas in Canada, and the arrival of the 3 Wise Men in Spain, all in one year!!!
Greetings from Canada!
Paul Mcnamara, Department Head & teacher of Saint James High School, Guelph, Ontario
hello
I'm from spain.I 12 years old.In spain we don't have Sinterklaas. we have Three Wise Men.This is a good tradition and original,the children are good to get many present. I love chritmas.
YLENIA FROM I.E.S.CUENCA DEL NALON
ASTURIAS ,SPAIN.
Hi Ylenia!
Please tell us more about The Three Wise Men!Try to write some 150 words and I will publish this on our site! From our Spanish guestwriter Ylenia!! Woowww!
¡hasta luego!
Geo Stork, editor
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