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Holland’s Christmas Traditions By Molly Ashworth. Sinterklaas’s Arrival. On the 16 th of November Sinterklaas arrives in Holland on a boat with his helper Zwart Piet.
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Sinterklaas’s Arrival On the 16th of November Sinterklaas arrives in Holland on a boat with his helper Zwart Piet. Families flock to the port to watch his arrival and have a large street party. Sinterklaas and Zwart Piet ride Sinterklass’s white horse through the town and hand out sweets and biscuits to the children.
Saint Nicholas’s Eve On Saint Nicholas Eve Dutch children put their clogs or shoes at their fire place. In them They put a picture for Sinterklaas and some hay for Sinterklaas’s white horse.
A poem is written to the person receiving the gifts as if it has been written by Sinterklaas. It should be kind, but also poke fun at the person receiving the gifts. Here is an example of one from my daddy’s friend’s from work. He wrote to his to his daughter. To Maria Sinterklass was glad to hear from Piet that you were good this year. Since you hadn’t been good the years before of what to get you he wasn’t sure Love Sinterklaas Sinterklaas Poem
Pakjesavond(present evening) Pakjesavond is a fun family time. People play trick’s on each other with the present’s, such as hiding a present in something or putting a small present in a big box. One of the main activities is a treasure hunt. Children will receive clue’s to the present’s hidden around the house and will have to find them.
Second Christmas day Dutch people have a second Christmas day and believe that Santa Claus comes from Lapland (in Finland). On the second Christmas they don’t get presents they have a quiet family day inside having a nice meal and playing games.
Mid Winter Horn Blowing People of Holland celebrate by blowing fog horns over wells from November 30th until January 6th, to celebrate the birth of Jesus and warn off evil spirits