Sinterklaas in the Netherlands, Santa Claus in the United States. What's the difference?

[@simdal3088]

The sint is about children, santa is about wallstreet 🤣

[@MartinWebNatures]

The big children 😂😂

[@MarjorieAnderson-w9c]

GOOD ONE!!! 😂

[@Iamsanni]

And in Holland about food

[@gerhard6105]

We had a Spainish neighbour who put the jute sack with presents in front of our door, hit the front door and window hard and the he ran home, two doors further. We ran to the door, our parents closed the curtains already a little before, and we went outside to see if we could see a Piet or de Si t somewhere on a roof. The good old 70's. Sinterklaas came to school, some Pieten stormed in, they threw candy all over the classroom floor and we stormed to them. The he took his big book and called the kids one by one to him. I did not end up in Spain. 😊

[@StevenQ74]

Sinterklaas was a real bissop, the bishop of Myra, in what today is Turkey , who lived from the year 270 until 335, he actualy died on the 6th of december. He was famous for giving presents to poor children and was sainted as Saint Nicholas in the year 550. He is the patron saint of sailors.

[@jwenting]

and coalminers. Which is why Piet wears blackface, it's coaldust!

[@peterkeijsers489]

@@jwenting Slight detail: it's not blackface, just a blackened face from the coaldust (and chimney soot). Blackface is something completely different (like Louis Armstrong used to paint his face when singing songs like Hello Dolly).

[@Djekkie-gj7jz]

@@peterkeijsers489 The black has worn off over the years.

[@itsalwayshalloweenexceptwh5118]

@@Djekkie-gj7jz Because of better working conditions

[@lilyliz3071]

@@itsalwayshalloweenexceptwh5118😅😅😅😅

[@TheJolanda01]

I love sinterklaas,I remember on the 5 december singing in front of the kachel,we were living obove our grandmother of 80 years old,we singing and than boem boem boem,omg there he was,we open the door and so manny pressents,how little did we know it was our grandmother whit her broom bumping on the sealing ,so no zwarte piet we found out years later stil love it.and I love the songs now playing in the stores

[@amyloriley]

Belgium here. We also have Sinterklaas, but with very minor traditions. Our Sinterklaas has one Pete, rather than multiple. And our Sinterklaas gives us presents at 6 December, rather than the 5 December. But I digress. You can compare Christmas here with Thanksgiving in the USA, when talking about the focus on gift giving and family. In my family when I was a kid, Sinterklaas was the children's feast, with lots of toys, while at Christmas small non-toy gifts were given, like books or a sweater. I don't know how much it's still the case since 30 years ago, but at least back then, in November or end October, toy stores printed their catalogue as an advertisement folder, so parents could give this folder to their kids and ask them "What do you want Sinterklaas to bring you this year?"-with lots of time left to do the shopping for their kids for the morning of the 6th December. Other countries have their own variants. If you're not shocked enough from the tradition of black Pete, look at southern Germany for example. Look up Krampus; you might think it's Halloween rather than Christmas/Sinterklaas!

[@BlueStarDragon]

The five most known Sinterklaas songs: *Zie ginds komt de stoomboot. *Sinterklaas kapoentje. *Daar wordt aan de deur geklopt. *O, kom er eens kijken. *De zak van Sinterklaas If you have Dutch friends you can celebrate Sinterklaas together. I like your vid's. So keep up the good work. And enjoy the holidays

[@palantir135]

Santa Claus derived from Sinterklaas. It was brought to the USA when the Dutch established New Amsterdam. The modern Dutch name sounds different but if you the name spoken in the southeast dialects of the Netherlands (and probably in old Dutch) it sounds quite similar; sènterkloas. I have happy memories of Sinterklaas. Putting your shoe near the chimney filled with a carrot for the horse and the next morning you would find something like a chocolate letter or something like that. The neighbors scared us a little, a few days before Sinterklaas, by bouncing on the back door and then throw some pepernoten in the kitchen. My parents would do the same for their children. On the day itself you got your presents with rhymes. The children had to make a present for the parents also with Sinterklaas rhymes. The punishment for bad behavior - being put in a bag and taken back to Spain - was always brought in such a way that you knew you didn’t have to take that threat very seriously. We never had presents at Christmas. Then we had two days of eating delicious foods. The house decorated and a Christmas tree. When I was in primary school, on one evening we went to church for a special Christmas mass.

[@onnob]

Google for “The History of How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus - National Geographic,” they have published the whole history of him.

[@MarcelL-DM]

Is that why Americans rever to Santa as saint Nic?

[@palantir135]

@@MarcelL-DM I never heard of saint Nik but it looks like it. Sinterklaas or Sint Nikolaas he’s called here.

[@MarcelL-DM]

@@palantir135 he's als called Sinterkloas here in Groningen 😅

[@palantir135]

@@MarcelL-DM more or less the same as in Brabant and North Limburg.

[@rianhoek5162]

Vier Sinterklaas dit jaar als volwassene, trek lootjes, maak een surprise en gedicht. Zo benieuwd hoe jullie dat ervaren. Complimenten voor jullie video's.

[@picobello99]

Why don't you ask one of your Dutch friends if you can celebrate Sinterklaas with them and get the full experience with poems and "surprises"?

[@pintdigitaleproeverij3916]

Hello Eric and Tammy, thanks again for a very nice video! There is a lot to say about Sinterklaas and Christmas in the Netherlands. As for Sinterklaas: for small children (approximately under 7) it is especially an exciting time with presents and sweets, but once you get past that age it is often a family event with Sinterklaas poems where you can make fun of someone or give them lots of compliments, and then you can give (and get) fake gifts and real gifts. Christmas is much more of a family event. First Christmas day a visit to the parents and second to the in-laws (vice versa). A special Christmas dinner is part of it. It's always a puzzle to figure out what the planning looks like with the family, and since the Dutch love planning, that's difficult 😥. What I think is important is that it does not become too commercial an event and there it probably differs enormously from the USA.

[@dn5239]

When I came to Holland in the early 70’s Christmas wasn’t so visible in the way of lights and advertising. It definitely was a time that I would really get home sick. Sinter Clause, however, was the big thing and quite honestly I found it was very impressive because families would make funny presents with poems for each other instead of expensive gifts. It was very family oriented. It was not great big, expensive gifts but handmade gifts and special poems made up for each gift. I could really appreciate this. Unfortunately over the years it has changed here more towards the American way. Marketing, marketing, marketing, Buy, Buy, Buy. The bigger the better. So sad😢 Sinter Cause is disintegrating 😢 Now a days they also show those sweet, innocent Christmas movies every night during the Christmas season. Also, everyone is lighting up their homes, mostly with white lights. The Christmas markets are everywhere from September! Although, I have warm memories of Christmas in America, I know now that what it is all about is marketing and spending lots and lots of money.

[@itsalwayshalloweenexceptwh5118]

I'm 39yo and I remember those big toy catalogues in the 80s and 90s. I rarely wanted anything from them (except for coloring pencils), which was a good thing since our family wasn't well off. When I became a teen we started doing the "surprises" (handmade gifts with poems). I'm really glad that tradition has survived. People are still doing it today. There's usually a spending limit (15~20eu) so things stay fun and affordable. I wouldn't be surprised if people were writing their poems by using chat GPT these days 😂 I don't want the netherlands to completely go the american way regarding christmas. Some houses in the US are so decked out it hurts the eyes. I prefer the classic christmas aesthetic (warm toned lights, christmas trees, real wreaths, holly, pine cones, traditional baubles, etc). I haven't noticed a sharp increase in consumerism around dutch christmas, but I guess I should ask my friends who have kids about what they do regarding christmas. If I remember correctly most families have a rule that they either have presents during sinterklaas or christmas, not both. The large majority seem to opt for presents for sinterklaas, and then maybe a small gift (socks, some candy, etc) for christmas. But a lot of people seem completely fine without any gifts during christmas, it's mostly a family oriented celebration. If the decorations are up and I can make mulled wine and watch tv with my parents and my brother then it'll be complete for me. Bonus points for old christmas music.

[@erni4073]

Hi Did you know that Santa Claus is the American answer to our Sinterklaas. Immigrants took it to the USA and Coca Cola got away with it. Sinterklaas comes mid November with a huge boat (filled with packages) from Spain to Holland. Born in Turkey. It’s mainly a children’s event.

[@koevoetje]

When I was young the Pieten had a sac and a roe.Witch is a bundel of branches.If we were not listening or did bad things,they could take us to Spain with them..And the roe to beat,so it was horrible for children...

[@chiitra271]

Many people were protestants or reformatory believers they (still) don't put up Christmas Trees etc.

[@Needlestitch]

@@koevoetje When I was a kid I thought the whisk (which you call roe) was the bishop's staff. So I made sure to be in the nice list of the big book of Sinterklaas. 😬

[@bertdejong3]

We were not only send to Spain in the sack,we were even told that Sinter Klaas was going to make pepernoten out of us😂

[@MagereHein]

When I was in school Sinterklaas and a few Pieten visited my class. I'm not sure what was more terrifying: sitting on Sinterklaas' lap or the threat of being hit with "de roe", a bundle of twigs held by Zwarte Piet and reportedly used to discipline bad children. The big book in which Sinterklaas had accurate notes of all children's acts of naughtiness was also terrible. I've never seen 'roe' or 'zak' being used in anger.

[@romo9122]

Dont listen to the complainers. You trying and learning is the main thing😊 yr one of my fave channels. ❤

[@MartinWebNatures]

Amen to that 👍😆

[@lbergen001]

Actually, Tammy and Eric are very accurate on the sinterklaas tradition. 👍👍

[@anemdo89]

In our house, my kids can put out there shoe every day when Sinterklaas is in the country. They only get a present 2 times a week though. And I enjoy making the house look like we've had nightly visitors. Sometimes the Pete's have played some board games and left them lying around. They may have lefted dirty footprints around, eaten half of the carrot that was in the shoe. Or they have only put poems in the shoes, that will lead the kids to hidden presents. On Sinterklaas evening, a neighbour bounces on our door and leaves the sack with presents. Taking the kids back to spain is no longer a threat in most households. Pete's have also changed a lot in recent years, they finally found some good soap to wash their faces.

[@KeesBoons]

I've never been so fortunate to get a free trip to Spain, but it used to be part of the Sinterklaas time. I think Christmas has changed a bit over the years, probably due to influence from the US. It used to be a pure family thing. First Christmas day was staying at home with the family and spending the time together. Usually some board games were being played, and a lot of talking about the past year and what happened to you and people around you. These days the gift thing seems to have shifted a bit more from Sinterklaas to Christmas, especially in families without any young children. Second Christmas day was more of visiting family (especially parents and grandparents). Christmas diner was often used to invite people like single aunts and uncles, to come over and spend the time together. At least these are my experiences. Could be totally different for other families. I think you've picked up a lot over the last 3 holiday seasons.

[@eddavanleemputten9232]

Here’s a little Sinterklaas tradition you haven’t touched on about the giving of gifts: A lot of people go all-out on the wrapping, and it has to be as creative as possible and themed. The theme either refers to the gift, something the person receiving the gift is passionate about, gentle ribbing about a habit or typical trait they have, their job (for adults because adults often get gifts too during Pakjes-avond), or downright a joke to make everyone laugh. It has to be crafted together by the giver (not bought ready-made). Someone who is going to move houses might receive his or her gift in a box that has been made to look like a moving truck. Someone who is always on their mobile phone might get theirs in wrapping shaped like a mobile phone signal tower, a SIM card or like a mobile phone. An avid gardener might get a flower pot shaped gift (or in the shape of any piece of gardening equipment). This tradition isn’t very recent, my mother’s family already did this and she turned 80 this September. My mother’s family always had a lot of dogs. Grandma often complained about puppies leaving messes for her to clean up. If I remember correctly, my uncle crafted a very lifelike poo out of clay, painted it and varnished it with the help of Grandpa. Grandma’s gift (small piece of jewellery) was hidden inside a cavity underneath the poo. The fake poo went in a box that got wrapped following another theme that fit Grandma. My nephew prefers to receive money he can then spend later on something he wants (he’ll tell me then and thanks me again), usually computer related. I don’t like giving cash but find an enormous amount of pleasure in creatively wrapping that money. Fold bills like origami (tough to unfold, hence fun to see him struggling), stuff coins inside packing peanuts and mix them inside an enormous box with other packing peanuts which causes him to spend a good fifteen minutes collecting all the hidden cash, stuffing bills inside paper straws and returning those to their original wrapping (of course not every straw contains cash), making him a money tree with coin ‘fruit’ hanging off the branches, … it’s always good for a laugh and my nephew loves it, because apparently he tells his parents, sister and friends he can’t wait to see what crazy wrapping idea comes next. And don’t worry: the rest of the family gets crazily wrapped gifts too.

[@sim-one]

Did you know that at offices and working places often Sinterklaas is celebrated for the children of the employees? It’s before his b-dat and in daytime with a visit by Sinterklaas, his big book with everything he knows about the kids, sweets, presents, singing. etc.

[@AlexK-yr2th]

Nice video guyz. Nothing much to add to the other comments. Your questions (and answers) here, cover the subject and explain it quite clearly for all people that wonder about it.

[@irbaboon1979]

Every year they make an entire story and production to entertain the kids and keep things exciting - boat has issues, somebody is missing, wrong gifts were loaded, great book was misplaced, etc…and every year all ends up being fine in the nick of time. It’s pretty neat actually if you think about… it’s a cool tradition but for foreigners who didn’t really grow up with it t may seem a bit weird in some areas - there’s no bad intent behind it all…

[@MLWJ1993]

We actually visited Sinterklaas at my dad's workplace when they held their ceremony for the day & got our gifts during that visit. Lots of fun!

[@corjp]

As a little kid I know there were always presents under the christmastree for all of us. During unwrapping we always yelled `Thank you Kerstman` Later I found out that we bought gifts for each other but still yelled Thank you Kerstman

[@dutchyjhome]

Hey guys, well to start more or less where you guys started: Our Fall/Winter season basically starts I'd say at 11 November Sint Maarten. This is our non horror related, non scary, non Trick or Treat children's walk from door to door and sing Sint Maarten songs to get candy from the people from the homes they rang the font door bell from. Then a week later Sint Nicolaas arrives with his steam boat from Spain with all of the presents for all the well behaved children. As of that moment children in general are allowed to put their shoe (with or without a carrot) at night at the fireplace or any or any other place which is pointed out and sing to Sint Nicolaas. He will not bring gifts until the 5th of December, but he will bring little candy's and Piet will go down the chimney to put the candy in their shoes to build up the tension for the evening of the 5th of December. It really is all about the evening 5th of December. If you've not been good Piet will hunt you down and slap you with his roe (his chimney sweep made out of small tree branches) you will end up in the Sack of Sint Nicolas (Sinterklaas) different spelling; same dude, and since the cargo room of the ship will be empty of presents, the cargo room can be filled with nasty kids to ship them to Spain and to work in the Toy factory to teach them a lesson. This is the dutch Sint Nicolaas version. Sint Nicolaas however is celebrated all over Europe for over 1000 years and the stories can and will locally be slightly different. This also goes for the character which accompanies Sint Nicolaas. In Germany and Austria and other countries there are no Piet characters but they have Krampus as the companion of Sint Nicolaas. Go look him up (Krampus) even here at KZbin and see the difference between our Piet and Krampus, hahaha. Our Piet is so sweet... Any way as you may have established by now; our Sint Nicolaas celebrations have got nothing, I mean really nothing to do with X-mas at all. To us two absolute different and non related holidays. In fact Sint Nicolaas is celebrated for over 1000 Years and the Christmas-man as we call him (you guys call him Santa Claus) was based up on 2 things really: A European Scandinavian myth of a person (looks from a distance a bit like your Santa Claus) riding the clouds on a Sleigh pulled by Rain-deers and of course our Sinter Klaas. If you look it up you will find out that Santa Claus is made up by the Coca Cola company somewhere in the 1930's. So to you guys it may look like this Santa Claus has been around forever...but I think it is safe to say that he has been around for what? Like 95 years while Sint Nicolas has bee around for over 1000 years.. just saying... Your American Santa Claus was not really introduced here in Europe I'd say since the 1980's and he is still (to us Europeans) the sad made up bad replica of Sinter Klaas and he comes at the wrong period of time... X-mas to us was a religious celebrating of the birth of JC and so we did have a christmas tree, but underneath there was a little farmer stall containing the all of the main characters from the religious book. So not just the fresh born JC, but also his mom M and 3 random eastern dudes carrying knowledge and gifts. And we were all dressed up nicely (we looked our best in our nicest clothes: The men all in suit and the women all in their best dresses) and the music played religious songs about JC and we burned candles and we had conversations in a family atmosphere and later we ate a very nicely cooked dish (usually very complicated like deer-back and so) The last thing that would come up in our mind were gifts...this was a moment of reflection and not of greed. So I hope you guys will understand that the Over-The-Top 5000 gifts per kid from a bad replica of Sinter Klaas at the wrong period of time was quite a confusing and disturbing and wrong (it felt that way at least) over the top initiative from the USA, of course the USA, since everything that came from the USA was over the top. Nothing was normal, everything had to be in USA Over-compensation-mode. We often asked ourselves what on earth was wrong with those over the top Americans and their over the top USA products and over the top celebrations... why can it not be simply modest; small, worthwhile, durable... It after all are the little things in life that are most valuable, especially while most of these little things are for free, and yet priceless to get; like love, affection, a friend, family you name it... None of these things can be bought and so no matter how big and over the top you make a religious fest into a consumer driven gift machine... love is for free and cannot be replaced by what ever gift you can come up with.

[@aksileb]

Thank you for the explanation. I love learning customs and traditions of other countries. I’m from the Czech Rep. and much like Austria we also have St. Nicholas who comes on the 5th of Dec, accompanied by an angel and a devil (like Krampus), the good and the bad. Children sing a song or recite a poem to St. Nicholaus and he asks them if they’ve been good and if the parents confirm, they will get small gifts. Well, it used to be some chocolates, fruits and nuts, maybe a small toy, because this is not the main gift-receiving day, that´s on Dec 24. But nowadays parents spoil the children with big expensive gifts and lots of them even on St. Nicholas Eve that I wonder what the kids get later on Christmas Eve when this is just the start (our gifts are brought by baby Jesus on Christmas Eve after a big family dinner). And of course if the children have been bad they only get coal or potatoes. And if they’ve been really bad the devil will put them in the sack and take them to Hell. But St . Nicholas has never let that happen yet 😉

[@SpawnBootcamp]

Sint Maarten isn't really celebrated in the south of the Netherlands. In Brabant we have the American halloween, the start of Carnaval on 11-11, Sinterklaas and Xmas.

[@RetiredBrass]

I also remember from 35-40 years ago the Bart Smit catalogus, and writing a "verlanglijstje". And you know the season is here when the kruidnootjes start showing up.

[@skippynoah]

When you were bad or naughty you were sand back to Spain the bag (=zak) that carried the gifts at first. Millions of Dutch children grew up with this threatening aspect of Sinterklaas and I have never met a person who was traumatized because of it. Still these days children are considered to be too sensitive to deal with this ‘threat’ so the story of children being send back is hardly used anymore.

[@annehoog]

My dad is now 75 years old and to this day does not like Sinterklaas because when he was young his family put up this charade with a uncle dressed up as sinterklaas who put his father in the sack. The poor boy cried his eyes out that night. At the time his family wasn't the only one doing these kind of things, but by the time that I was young it really wan't a thing anymore.

[@funnyfromadam]

In the past, children were also beaten by teachers at school. It's good that we have changed such things over time to more civilized forms. The same goes for old traditions like Sinterklaas, because believe me, children from America or other countries with a much more cheerful and milder figure like Santa Claus are really not less happy than Dutch children.

[@AlexK-yr2th]

You forgot that "je de ROE krijgt" when you were "stout"...

[@skippynoah]

@@AlexK-yr2th good point!

[@gerhard6105]

Zak is sack in English.

[@alexanderh9335]

Some fun extra "facts" (no sinterklaas experience is the same): - most often parents allow their children to set their shoes once every 2-3-4-5 days or so, it differs. Why? Well not to spoil the kids or as parents often call it "not to overwork Sinterklaas" like you said, but also well; usually they get 1 or 2 small toys and some candy. It's difficult to find 30+ different kinds of toys as well, parents just see what they can get and divide it over some sessions of "shoe setting", this usually is the bottleneck for how often they can set their shoes. - besides from singing, it is also recommended to leave a snack for the horse. A small bowl of milk or water, some carrots perhaps. And ofcourse it's magic for the kids when they see it's gone in the morning :D - The horse sometimes get's a new name. Ozosnel (oh so quickly) is the new horse since 2019, when the old one called Amerigo retired. Not even sure what's real and what's fantasy, but I'm assuming it's just another added story to the myth. - Our Southern neighbours in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium (Vlaanderen) call the horse "Slechtweervandaag" which means "Bad weather today", it got it's name from a mishap/confusion in a conversation XD (typical Flemish/Dutch humor aimed for kids) - Sinterklaas indeed does arrive by steamboat coming from Madrid! But Madrid doesn't have any canals/lakes/seas to which it is connected on which boats can travel! Now that is magical! - Since a couple of years there is this "Sinterklaasjournaal" (Sinterklaas news), where the entire cast of Pieten are played by famous Dutch people. Children don't notice, Adults love to spot who's who. Has become a great tradition. The show is connected to the official national TV-broadcast of Sinterklaas arriving in the Netherlands. - Since the Sinterklaasjournaal exists; every year the writers of the show come up with this major disaster. The boat sank. They left all the presents in Spain. The list of who gets what is lost. The storage room for the presents in NL gets flooded etc etc. Slightly scaring kids with the idea they might not get anything is kind of part of it. Although in recent years there have been some parents who were concerned for the mental health of their kids (lol). - The big day / 5th december / all the big presents... well I'll describe 2 options; the way it goes with kids, or just adults. With kids it most often is done on the actual 5th of december but some parents might delay for the weekend because of circumstances, but generally the younger the kids are the more likely it's done on the 5th. Sometimes other family members and their children will join. Often one of the elders will go outside with a huge jute bag filled with gifts, leave it on the porch and bang the door like crazy and run off, the parents then say "who could that be?!?!" kids get excited etc you get the gig. The kids usually don't notice who's missing, or the person might already came back through the back or something. 80% of the gifts are for the kids, the parents will often buy some smaller ones for eachother or themselves. The parents might write a couple of poems (usually with jokes and naughty puns or little jabs in them). Without kids..... the entire charade gets easier, more comedy enters; people can make surprise-gifts for eachother which can be anything from an elaborate self-made box which resembles something the receiving party likes, or it can be a box filled with slime and a present in the middle, or any other joke or puzzle to get to your gift. Often the poems return. There is a 3rd more casual way of doing it, often done with class mates or collegues from work: everybody buys 1-2-3 small gifts and then they play a game with a dice where for example throwing a 1 = pick a gift, 2= unwrap a gift you have, 3 = pass gift to the left, 4 = pass to the right etc etc, and the game stops when the pile of gifts is empty. - Christmas! Some families do celebrate it with gifts, a lot don't. And like you said; because we have two days we can devide it more easily between family and friends, or family from your side and the others. - And finally; I've never been sent to spain, but the threat felt very real! lol. I do remember when I was very young and we were celebrating it with older cousins, my parents thought it would be funny to give me a big bag of salt as a present. I was so emberassed! I was convinced I have been good, why would Sinterklaas do this to me? Cousins and elders all laughing etc. Yeah, didn't like it, was very confused, but my mom was kind enough to tell me something along the lines of "oh don't worry honey, I will just mix it when washing clothes, Sinterklaas won't notice" which made it a lot better! Sorry for all the text, got a bit excited because of the great video I guess! ;-)

[@macbosch64]

You should watch the Sinterklaas bloopers….they are hilareous at times Thanks for your fun video again.

[@Brera011]

When my daughters were young we always celebrated Sinterklaas. But since they were getting older (23 and 25 now) we switched to Christmas with presents under the tree, a real one btw and a family dinner.. I think this goes for most families in the Netherlands.

[@margavanasperen8379]

The figure of Santa Claus is a transformation of Sinterklaas (Sint Nicolaas). Christmas used to be more of a religious event and Sinterklaas the event where the children got their gifts. In the Big Book of Sinterklaas was written down how you had behaved the year round. Nowadays, Christmas is becoming the gift event, mostly after the children got too big for the story of Sinterklaas. In my home I won't put up the Christmas tree before the 6th of December. I wait until Sinterklaas has left the country.

[@rinynewton8297]

Tammy is spot on with sinterklaas and Christmas! Well done Tammy. The thing nowadays though there are a lot of families who's children have grown up and have switched from sinterklaas gifts to Christmas gifts. For me personally, that is the part i don't like as for me Christmas has everything to do with the birth of crist and nothing to do with gifts! But that is my personal opinion. People tend to forget what xmas is all about because of all these gifts Haha de zak van sinterklaas is just a fun thing. I experienced it as a thing that never happened of course but i have always seen it as a sort of fantasy. It greatly depends on how the parents bring it to their kids! I was never worried about it. Great video i love to see the fun you 2 have. It's so funny...and i admire your knowledge about the Dutch culture. Both of you sound as real Dutchies. So nice to have watched you over the last 2 years. Well done you two❤.

[@rollingrene]

Jullie video's worden steeds leuker.. ga asjeblieft zo door.

[@FoxInClogs]

About Santa's drinking problem: Growing up in the UK, everybody left a glass of sherry on the coffee table for Santa. (Together with a mince pie and a carrot for the reindeer.) That's a lot of sherry before he even hits Ireland or the US. I'm not sure he should have been in charge of a sleigh after the first two houses. (And who knows what he was knocking back in Germany, or even further east!)

[@donaldvanberkum8666]

Yes a little bit of home love it, I remember my mom and dad telling my brothers and I"you better be good and behave or you go to Spain in a sack, and believe me we where on our best behavior (well most of the time) and now I live in the US for 34 years and celebrate Christmas with my grand children. Merry Christmas from Sunny Arizona

[@waasar]

I loved this comparison and hearing about your personal memories on this different though similar holiday experience in the US. It is interesting to see how different countries manage to capture the same kind of seasonal spirit.

[@chiitra271]

When you wish you should go to one of the Sinterklaas arrival parties. Almost every year we are watching from my sisters home along the Amstel River in Amsterdam, with hot chocolate and many special St Klaas treats. Although the kids are now getting a bit too big, it's still a fun tradition. At about the 5th of December they'll exchange gifts and poems and at some houses also surprise gifts (you'll have to search a bit for your gift). It's a bit like a Piñata. Adults will mostly get chocolate or simple gifts. With Christmas gifts for the adults are a bit more luxurious and useful, like perfume, jewelry, clothes etc. And the first day is mostly reserved for close family, the second day may vary from family to family. Depending on tradition.

[@tresenie]

Thanks for reminding me about Frosty, i saw it on tv as a little kid, my mom once bought some frosty balls and they still look good after all those years. For us Sinterklaas left us the presents and candy at the chimney for us to find in the morning, and we left some carrots or a biet (for the horse) and a beer(for piet) on the evening before. We had a flemish tv show called "Dag Sinterklaas" written by Hugo Matthysen and with Bart Peeters as a guest in Spain where they explain a lot of things and the horse was called slechtweervandaag (badweathertoday).

[@gert-janvanderlee5307]

How we got our gifts: When we were very young, if we got up in the morning there would be the coffeetable setup in front of the window. Curtains closed and the gifts would be displayed on that table, or in front of it. Usually a few smaller cheaper ones and one or two bigger or more expensive ones. Later, when we were about 8 - 10 or older we had pakjesavond. That was when in the evening there would be a knock on the door and a sack of wrapped gifts was outside the front door. The sack would be taken into the living room and while drinking coffee or lemonade and eating cake, the kids would then take turns picking a gift, reading the name on the gift and giving it to that person. At home we would each get a few gifts, at my grandma's house one each.

[@charleneakse5606]

And again I really love your video! You are both so entertaining and so very respectful, thank you for that! To add to aot of comments already I can say that yet again with Sinterklaas and Christmas, there is a distinction between the Netherlands "boven de rivieren" and the Netherlands "beneden de rivieren". The souterners tend to put the emphasis on Christmas (at least the presents and especially when the Children don't "believe" in Sinterklaas anymore)) and the people above the rivers tend to mainly celebrate Sinterklaas.

[@Lars_erik]

There actually isn’t any difference. At least, it isn’t one that has anything to do with ‘onder of boven de rivieren’. It might be different in a specific region of the country. A news article I just found doesn’t seem to suggest that though. (AD 04-12-2018; Bijna helft van Overijssel viert geen Sinterklaas, in Gelderland en Flevoland is Sint nog minder populair). Families with young kids that still believe celebrate Sinterklaas and Christmas around here. As a teenager I used to celebrate ‘Sinterkerst’, with my friends and we would make surprises and poems for each other. Some adults will continue to do that with a group of friends or family, but they will celebrate Christmas as well. At home, we only celebrated Christmas after me and my brother stopped believing in Sinterklaas. And I’m pretty sure some friends will start the decorate their homes for Christmas next week, because they love it that much 😂.

[@RFGfotografie]

When I was a child you had a program on Fox Kids called "De Club van Sinterklaas". And for me that was one of the best shows out there. I HAD to watch it. If not each night. Then the day that all episodes aired on 1 day with the Sinterklaas music festival at the end. It was so much fun. But sadly they stopped airing that quite a while ago and yeah you still got the movies, but it just isn't the same. The intro songs are still well remembered. And the stories/characters where a lot of fun. Good old times...

[@witvliet6286]

Thanks for the great and funny video ! i have laughed a lot about you two ;-) I remember that in the 70s at primary school we took names out of a box and then you had to make a surprise for that child, some children made the most beautiful things, some made it very dirty and then you had to take out your present with your hand in the dirt haha, everyone had the most fun, it was mainly about how the surprises were made which was the most fun. Best wishes to you both !

[@valeria1966311]

When I grew up Sinterklaas was so special, we didn't got overwhelmed with gifts and we got to put our shoes to the fireplace only one day in the weekend (my parents weren't able to afford much) and we wouldn't get a gift but a chocolate letter or something sweet. Only on Sinterklaasdag we got pressents and my parents made sure we had something to read, to wear and to play with and something sweet and that was it and we were excited and happy as we weren't spoiled at all with sweets and gifts. So it was a magic time. Christmas was a family thing, had nothing to do at all with gifts you were told gifts were given to the christ and we had a scene with the baby christ and the whole enchilada ;-) and we had the tree who was always the real one so the whole house smelled like the pine tree and because my dad was from hungary we had a mixed tree, bobbles and also walnuts and sweets in it and it was magic too, it was put up a few days before christmas because the needles would be all over the place and would go down at the 6th of January as that was three kings day and then the season was done. We were not ever threatned with going to spain it was for the fun of the parrents I'm sure and in this time it's not done to use the pieten to be used to "contole" your children. They're helpers not punishers they make sure that Sinterklaas who's old gets all the help he needs and the pieten "adore" him because he's so fair and even when children have not been "good" ? they'll get a gift. By the way on a side note there are now "stores" in the Netherlands where parrents who have a very tight budget can get toys and gifts for their children so no one gets left out (if possible) and also on school there is a Sinterklaasfeest. The feest is celebrated by the children who will take one of their fellow classmates to make a suprises for, they'll buy something for a gift and the amount of that gift is the same for everyone and it's not a large amount. Then they'll package it and that can be in a fun way but often in a way that represents the child who gets the gift like he likes football?? The gift might be wrapped in a football and often there is a poem with it and that's also in a fun and teasing way or just inspired by what's in the suprise. Hope you don't mind the long story :-) Wishing you both an amazing great festive season, take care and stay out of trouble and thanks for the laughs :-) xo Vleer.

[@Schachtschabel]

Great topic, when i grew up in the 70's we got the presents on dec 5th and when we were old enough we switched to Christmas evening the 24th. Most Dutch families celebrate both holidays. That is one of the advantages of being dutch ;-)

[@MartinWebNatures]

Yes same here, we switched that too. Only on Sinterklaas we had our chocolate letter and something else sweet.

[@SoultoSoulTravels]

Nice!!!

[@eddys.3524]

When I was young ( so much younger than today... LOL ) my parents took us to family (a large family) who every year arranged a Sinter Klaas feest in the evening with a "real" Sinterklaas and Pieten. That was the event of the year.. at least for me. When Sinterklaas arrived with his Pieten (usually one or two) everybody had to come to Sinterklaas who from his thick book read what you'd done that year and held you to account in a pleasant way. After which you got your presents. After Sinterklaas left the second part of the evening started where surprise gifts were passed, with a rhime describing what kind of present it was and /or the occasion it related to. That tradition stopped when most of their children grew up and left home.. What remained was passing the surprise presents in our own family, which continued for several years.

[@majordisorder73]

From (dutch speaking) Belgium, here. Whenever my birthday (nov 13th) came, I knew that Sinterklaas would arrive and we’d watch the arrival on the Dutch television. That’s when we would get the different books from the toy stores to make our lists and he visits all the schools. In Belgium, Sinterklaas gives the presents on dec 6th and he leaves the presents at the chimney. The day after Sinterklaas we usually put up our christmas tree. We do give presents on Christmas, but no toys, because that’s reserved for Sinterklaas. I bet you know that Dutch people took Sinterklaas with them to the US and that’s how he became Santa Clause…

[@olgajansen3230]

When I was still teaching kindergarten. (20 years ago) There were also expats among them. The young children also noticed that Santa Claus and Sinterklaas looked alike. I always said they were cousins ​​and good friends. And that they make appointments about whom visited which child. And that is why Sinterklaas came to one child and Santa Claus to the other child.

[@leidenlocal]

The Sinterklaasjournaal is the best tv series of the year, the references for adults, the guest stars, funny names, it is a blast for adults. There is a team of comedy writers behind it

[@hiljepeters]

So true! @soultosoultravels, really recommend watching Sinterklaasjournaal, great for your Dutch as well. Starting 13 november around 18.00u.

[@helenehuydecooper3534]

Grown ups celebrate Sinterklaas also: important tradition is that you write a poem to the person you give a gift. The poems are poking fun at each others habits or experiences of that year. The gifts are mostly not that expensive and sometimes wrapped up to look like something entirely different "een surprise" with the present inside.

[@petervrooden9849]

When I grew up we could put out our shoes every Saturday Sinterklaas was in The Netherlands. We made a nice drawing for Sinterklaas and got some Sinterklaas candy in return. On the 5th of december Black Pete brought presents. Knocking on the door and threw some candy in the room. Left the presents in the hallway. The punishments for being naughty where indeed taking away to Spain and even beating by Pete. Nowadays there are no punishments left. Also Black Pete is gone. Now it's Pete in all different colours and shades. Christmas in my days was going to church in the evening of the 24th and a midnight bread meal after that. On 25th we were going to the paternal grandparents and have a Christmas diner at home. 26th we went to the maternal grandparents. No gifts with Christmas.

[@fionaek]

The presents on december 5th go in a big sac. But the smaller presents when kids put their shoe down (normaly once or twice a week) they go under the jimny.

[@gerhard6105]

And i have a real roe here at my house. I also still have these branches were they are made from. And i still have a chimney which is in use right now, burning wood. My house is from 1870 and is in the Belgium Ardennes. Here they also celebrate Sint Nikolaas. I am Dutch. The language here is German ( yes, really).

[@Nickery1]

Great video guys ! .. enjoy them each time !

[@normancarr3015]

I never missed a year going to see Santa.And I remember Mom receiving the Montgomery Wards and sears wish book right after labor day

[@ElMariachi1337]

Back when I was a kid Sinterklaas was for kids with all the presents (we had those toy magazines too around that time) And when you got older it moved to Christmas with family gifting each other presents, but that one was never about Santa Claus.

[@supravlieg]

Our family would sit in the living room singing Sinterklaas songs, curtains closed. Then the neighbours would bang the kitchen windows and door, open it slightly, throw some candy into the living room and run off before we could see them, leaving behind a big basket of presents.

[@Carnovach]

At my home with the rest of the family, we had a real tree with real candles, Greetings from Roelof.

[@nerina97]

Hi Eric and Tammy, My Sinterklaas experience was like this. We didn't have a chimney, so Piet/Pete has a key that fits every door. Before 5th december we sang a Sinterklaas song and put a shoe by the door or window. and leave something for the horse, like a carrot. Sometimes also I left a letter or drawing for Sinterklaas and Piet. At night Sinterklaas and Piet visited sometimes and left a small/smaller gift. So I received 'shoe gifts', like a chocolate letter or a smaller toy. And when they didn't visited I learned also that he gave me already something the previous day and that he was visiting other children. At 5th december when it's dark, Piet knocks very hard on the door. And by the time I was by the door Pete was already gone. They are so fast :). And then I got one big/bigger gifts and some smaller gifts. Nothing too crazy. but crazy enough for a child to be extremely excited about. I look back with happy memories to those times..

[@gaoth88]

at one of my grandparents place they had a "hulp-sint" A "fake" one who was also invested with the same responsibility and all that as the true Sinterklaas, they help Sinterklaas deliver other presents. We had to sing songs or not get our presents (we always got them of course). When I grew up I learned that our hulpsint was also the guy who ran the shooting arcade at Kermis. At our other grandparents there was a sack indeed left at the door after someone banged on the window or front door.

[@maryannecomment3302]

Traditionally, there is every day something in the shoe. It used to be candy, most of the time. When I was a child, I received every day 2 pieces of chocolate. But when my son was a child, I also put some little presents in his shoe. Not every day, but sometimes, other times it was just a little candy.

[@Some2else]

Traditionally the petes crawl down the chimney. But that story, even for kids, became harder and harder to explain with central heating in all the houses. On Sinterklaasavond, the presents are indeed put into a large bag or sack. Sometimes the bag is put besides the front door, with dad sneaking out the back door, putting it before the front door, knocking or ringing, and running back. But stories like "oh yes, i nearly forgot, someone put a big dirty bag before the door, I put it in the shack behind the house, you dont't mind, do you?" were also used. Neighbours often assisted with banging on the door. Nice that you touched upon Sinterklaas being a little bit senile. I greatly dislike the RTL image of black pete, with the petes being stupid. In my childhood time, the Pieten often outsmarted Sinterklaas, so I never experienced that as discrimination. Sinterklaas presents in the family should be accompanied by (long) poem, in which the receives is teased in a friendly way with his faults over the pas year.

[@dimsel]

The Sinterklaas Journaal (news) Started in 2000, a year before that a program called 'De Club van Sinterklaas' air on a commercial station. It started a new trend where you'd see Petes and Sinterklaas on a daily basis in all kinds of adventures. Before that we hardly saw the Sint and his Petes in anything. We would not see them in the days leading up to the arrival. Maybe all you'd see was an image of his boat in a promo for a few seconds a few days before the arrival somewhere around the TV-programmes Sesame Street, Jeugdjournaal and Klokhuis (80s & 90s). And then: BAM, he was here on Saturday. But you still would not see him much. Sinterklaas and/or Petes would make surprise appearances on maybe Sesame Street, a quiz, perhaps a talkshow, maybe a tv-movie. So they were always really mysterious characters. Kids that grew up after 2000 have been been used to seeing them all the time, every day from the moment they got home from school.

[@gerritcloete1290]

Just saw you guys on the 125 tram, thought you looked familiar, but wasn't sure😂

[@SoultoSoulTravels]

Lol!! Have a great afternoon!!

[@zusannehobers2488]

We used to agree to a certain amount of money each could spend on small presents and tongue-in-cheek things for one person whoms ‘lotery ticket’ you pulled. And it was kept a big secret for whoyou would buy/make the presents that year! This way there was no difference (or prestige-thing/favoratism) possible. And ofcourse at least one funny/cheeky personal poem had to be made! Gifts were wrapped, poems were written in secrecy, only reveiled on the Sinterklaas avond. For the kiddies it was all about the suspense and presents, for the adults all about fun and gezelligheid.

[@borg1964]

Great video, love your new intro😊So, Sinterklaas was a Greek katholic bishop from Myra who was known for his kindness. Now in the Dutch tradition he lives in Spain, arrives by steam ship with lots of gifts for children. I was told that Dutch immigrants introduced Sinterklaas in the US and the English had Father Christmas. And that is how Santa Claus was created with gifts at Christmas. But don’t take my word for it😁 All the rest has been invented by illustrators, toy company’s and what have you. When I was young, I was told to finish my dinner, or I would be taken back to Spain. Somehow I was not impressed 😁We did not use this threat on our daughter. Gifts at Christmas is becoming more popular, especially among adults. We will all bring presents and put them under the tree, have a nice meal together and after that start unwrapping the gifts. We love to do this on Christmas eve while watching ‘All you need is love Christmas special’🥰

[@MmalpMm]

it used to be that there were only presents from St Nicolaas in the night of 5-6 december; nowadays children get to 'set their shoe' every evening, but presents are not given every night. Often only in the weekends. and up till the 5th of december only small gifts like sweets and chocolate. St Nicolaas walks over the roofs on his horse and does help disperse the gifts (through the chimney!). He plays a bit dumb to help others to find a solution successfully but he knows everything will turn out fine!. Some people choose to exchange gifts at christmas. Sint does (no longer) not take children to Spain, but you can get a 'roe' (bundle of twigs)

[@Alakablam]

If you think dutch kids were scared by sinterklaas, check out krampus next

[@wilfredzwart2154]

You guys are so hilarious 😂😂😂

[@RFGfotografie]

Awesome video yet again.

[@framegote5152]

In my childhood the thing that triggered my "Sinterklaas-feeling" was when the pepernoten became available in the shops. (Usually around the beginning of november). Now they're already in the shops at the end of august! I guess everything changes to .... money. Christmas here, traditionally: 1st day: church (as it's a Christian holiday - and holy day) and the 2nd day it's visiting family (grandparents mostly). Nowadays the American way of celebrating Christmas is growing in popularity, because then people can just wrap up a gift and leave it at that. At Sinterklaasfeest there often need to be a rhyme with it and the gift needs to be concealed as something else (called a surprise, which is in this case not an English word). I like the video! but eh ... don't apologize for saying what you think. We're Dutch, remember. 😉

[@zusannehobers2488]

We (used to be) kids did the same for Sinterklaas: foraging through the big Bart Smit and/or Intertoys advertising books that were sent to every household. Ripping out the things you wanted, stcking them on the letter to Sinterklaas en Zwarte Piet in your carrotfilled shoe. Later on (untill now?) the kids have a Sinterklaas-app to send him their wishes!!

[@headphoneheadache7667]

The getting put in the sack back to Spain is quite recent thing, originally you would get punished with "Roe" (a bundle of long twigs) if you were naughty. The large sack at the front was how my family did it until all of the chidren were old enough, when the adults tell it that's all fake. From then on, my family switched to the surprise version, you would still have a sack but through a lottery, you buy a present (under an agreed value) for the person that you got and often a poem/rhyme with it. (Often, these are very light-hearted, poking fun or giving some compliments) For the presents before the 5th of December, you can technically put your shoe at the hearth/heater everyday. However, from my experience, that doesn't mean that you would get presents every day, sometimes it's just some peper/kruidnoten. And yeah, the origin story of Sinterklaas/Saint Nicolas is that he came from Turkey, Mira specifically and headed up to Europe. Generally, he is considered the Saint of a lot of things like normal, (sailors, prostitues and more), but his main domain was marriage. If you wanted to marry, but you didn't have the money, then the story goes that he would throw you the gold for the marriage. (I believe this is where all the throwing of the candy and peper/kruidnoten comes from.) Technically speaking, Saint Nicolas isn't exactly a Dutch thing, next to the carribean and Belgium also celebrate it. (Although, in Belgium he is even more stately presented, due to Belgium being almost completely catholic.) These countries also do have the Pete thing. However, Germany (I think Austria and Switserland partly as well) have also Saint Nicolas, but instead of mulitple petes, it's Krampus next to him. More of a demon companion that would ring a bell if you have been naughty.

[@basvanderwerff2725]

whould not call it quite recent i heard it as a kid and i was born in the 80s

[@daviddevos3518]

That's what my parents told me through out the year, at times when I was annoying (according to them); That if I didn't stop immediately, I'd be off in a sack to Spain. Never took it serious though. But yeah, the jute coalsack filled with presents was always at the front door, after some heavy banging on the front window. And when you were distracted by that, it suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, rained pepernoten, kruidnoten and schuimpjes around you. Most times neighbours where helping each other with the whole operation. But that was in the seventies. I can't tell you how it works nowadays.

[@vanderquast]

You should watch the arrival of Sinterklaas live on TV to get a good sense of Dutch culture: Saturday the 18th of november on 12.00h 😊

[@charleneakse5606]

Yes! I am in my forties and every year I wouldn't want to miss the "Inkomst van Sinterklaas" on TV for the world!

[@user-Dutchie]

In a few weeks The Sint will arrive in Gorinchem, just 30 km from your home. So come and see. Greets from Gorinchem

[@erikbehaeghel]

On Christmas Eve it was Christmas meal with the family 1 st Christmas Day gifts from the godparents for the children and more food 2 de Christmas Day Gifts from the parents and dinner with friends Was my child's tradition in Belgium We also had Sint Maarten on November 11 and Sinterklaas on December 6

[@MartinWebNatures]

Love this video. ❤. You are so fun couple to watch, hilarious.

[@olgajansen3230]

The Sinterklaasfeest is so old. If you go to the Rijksmuseum , you will find the painting Sinterklaasfeest from Jan Steen from the year 1665

[@marceldebruijn5888]

The traditions of Sinterklaas and Christmas blended by the people on journeys over seas into Santa Clause. Just to keep that tradition alive. They both are called Saint Nicholas, have their helpers and move at lightspeed to deliver gifts. Anyway the first signs of the holiday season are the Sinterklaas treats, followed by the toystore wishbooks (toy catalogues?) Wich my dad used to call "De Gekmakertjes" (the crazymakers)

[@aislingbooks]

'De Gekmakertjes' - wat leuk. 😊

[@Iamsanni]

They are on the roof from the 18th, throwing small gifts through the chimney every night (if you put down some food and drinks for the horse and sang a song. If you were naughty you might find a little bag of salt in your shoe..(when I grew up)). The 5th the presents get dropped in a big bag at the frontdoor. The Pieten will knock on the window so you know 😊 or will actually bring a visit with the bag which were usually some neighbours dressed up😊.

[@hanneken4026]

Historically, Sinterklaas was the lighthearted gift-giving evening, certainly exciting for the kids, including the non-serious threat of taking a misbehaving kid back to Spain - everybody knew that wouldn't really happen! In our family, setting you shoe was done only on the weekends between his arrival and the 5th, but that was in less affluent times. When the kids grew out of their belief, it often changed to be more about the poems and home-made surprising ways to present the gifts, or games used to distribute the gifts, but still not about extravagance - the humor is much more important, and showing you've spent some thought on the recipient. Christmas was traditionally for religion and for family warmth - 2 days so you can have one dinner with one set of grandparents, and one with the other set, with your inlaws or however the extended family (and/or friends) could best be accomodated. Historically, the first Christmas day was more religiously and solemnly celebrated, the second just family enjoyment or obligations, but no presents. A decorated Christmas tree, a Christmas star light in the window, but no extravagant external light shows. Strong cultural influence from US films and advertising has changed that in the last 40 years or so, so the American style of Christmas has become much more in vogue. After all, who'd say no to twice the presents? Then New Years Eve was, and still is, the time for a party with your friends.

[@AnneSpeeFrickus]

We celebrate Sinterklaas with gifts and Christmas with our families. Dinner together etc. No presents. But some of my friends celebrate with presents at Christmas, particularly when the children grow up and no longer believe Sinterklaas exists. I like the tradition though, so even now that my kids are 19 and 21, we still have presents at Sinterklaas. The Sinterklaas horse used to be named Amerigo by the way. Since 2019 it is Ozosnel.

[@maryannecomment3302]

When I grew up, Christmas was a religious celebration. On Christmas Eve (24 December) there was the midnight mass and breakfast ( in the middle of the night and again the next morning). Sometimes there were religious Christmas songs (not Rudolf the red nose reindeer) like Stille Nacht etc. Next day I was going to church again and in the afternoon going back to see the Christmas decoration with Jesus Christ. The first day was with the family and so was the second day. If you were married, you went the first day to your parents and the second day to your in-laws or the other way around. Later, when I had my child, I did not do a religious Christmas anymore. I went to so see a movie for children, with my family, and had a delicious diner afterwards. My mother never came at Christmas because she wanted it to celebrate in a religious way (she was not mad at us, just wanted her celebration her way). My in-laws organized a diner with the whole family on the second Christmas day or between Christmas and New Year's Eve. There were never presents at Christmas. Not when I was a child, and also not when I had my own child. Some people give presents on Christmas day, when their children are adults and do not celebrate Sinterklaas anymore. We never did that.

[@sandrakuipers5766]

The horse is called Americo. Op zn paardje oh zo snel, is a part of a song. On his horse so fast.

[@Roozje44]

Sinterklaas lives in Madrid in a palace. You can celebrate it with small children, but it is also a lot of fun to celebrate it with friends and write poems for eachother :). Especially the poems are hilarious, because 'Sinterklaas' writes them and he is eager to point out bad habits and last years events, but always ends with a positive note. Usually kids don't put their shoe at the fireplace every day, usually more like once or twice a week. They sing songs and put a carrot, hay or water in and next to the shoe for the horse of Sinterklaas. As long as Sinterklaas is in the Netherlands, children can watch the 'Sinterklaas news', which is broadcasted on national television. The arrival of the steamboat in the Netherlands is also broadcasted on national televison. Usually Sinterklaas will also arrive in towns and cities. Pakjesavond is on the 5th of december, but a lot of Dutch people celebrate it in the weekend. You put the presents in a huge bag and give it to the neighbour. At some point he or she will knock very hard on the window or door without being seen and the bag with presents is left on the doorstep! Some people dress up like Sint to deliver the presents to the children. I really hope some of your Dutch friends will invite you for a real celebration! Great video as always!

[@Maverick21491]

For years I tried to get a free ride to Spain , never happened , the poems he wrote for me were getting harsher every year though 😅

[@tinabuitenom]

We celebrate sinterlaas, when the children were young with gifts and so on, when they were older we did the same at christmass day its more cozy with the tree and lights, thats how we did this, doesnt count for other people ofcourse.

[@Stadtionalist]

Christmas is also very much involving gifts, after all, we have the Kerstman (who looks eerily similar to Santa Claus). In fact, when kids grow up, the presents at Pakjesavond (gifts eve, 5th of December) goes away but the gifts at Christmas sticks around. I honestly cannot really remember how the fairytale of the Kerstman was construed when I was little but nowadays, its very clear that we (the family/friends) buy eachother gifts, which we all place in a pile underneath the Christmas tree. We then first have a jolly good evening with a feast of a dinner and afterwards, we randomly pick gifts for eachother from underneath the tree. Sinterklaas is definitely a real thing for the kids and the guy who decides if you've been good and deserve presents or naughty and deserve a ticket to Spain in a sack (or some coal, or a whooping with a bundle of sticks). As soon as Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands, he and his horse will ride the roofs of every home, every night, to deliver small presents or (mostly) candy to the children that have put their shoes out. The helpers (Pieten) will help with that and also monitor the naughty children. At Pakjesavond, he and/or his helpers will deliver a sack of presents in the evening, but you will never catch him red handed. It could be that he delivers them on your doorstep but possibly also on the attic. When I was a wee little youngster myself, one year the entire family was sitting in the livingroom at my grandmothers house and at some point, a loud noise came from the hallway. Apparently I went to look and see what the ruckus was all about, only to return and close the door to the hallway again, stating "There's a Pete laying at the bottom of the stairs" before going back to minding my own business. TL;DR: We do gifts with Christmas too and most Dutch kids get presents from both Sinterklaas and Santa Claus

[@schiffelers3944]

The shoe setting is linked to the lore of the two girls that could not wed, because they had no bruidschat. Also part of the reason why we have the chocolat (Gold) coins. And this also has ties back to the ladies of the night which he is also Patron Saint from - he was not that lonely - he had Chruch money he could spent. LOL

[@jacobmannessen1191]

You can find Sint Nicolaas in all traveling countries and catholic countries. So you can find him in Belgium, Germany, England, Norway etc.. he is very important in orthodoc church. In Austria Sint Nicolaas has mountain gosts/fairies to help him. It is different in several countries. Because we had so many people working as sailors it became a national thing. In Early days you only got some candy’s. The adults give each others a surprise present. It is a present within a present. It is hard work making a nice surprise with a poem beside it.

[@NinaW1n]

In most homes children can set their shoe a few times a week, for example every wednesday and friday, in some families children can set their shoe every day but there will not always be something in it, cause ofcourse he can not be there every day, he has more houses to visit. And it will only be something small in the shoe, some candy, a small pack of pencils, not big gifts. The big gifts are for december 5th.

[@Jetem52]

😂😂😂 this is real funny good job

[@DaniëllaKL1970]

BTW i might have overlooked comments about it but for our family there was a tree rule. The day after Sinter Klaas, the Christmas tree came, and the tree vanished after the 6th of January. And still to this day this is the case for me. I was told this is a catholic thing. Oh and Christmasdinner is just a tiny bit more expensive/bigger than any other dinner. Instead of buying 3full shoppingcarts at AH and Dirk for just 2 day's. 😊😂

[@dikkiedik9463]

So Dutch holidays also known in the US: So the typical 'Dutch secular way' for these holidays: Eastern - National holiday, preceded by 'Good Friday'. While 'Good Friday' is not a national holiday, it is usually a day that is taken off so you can extend your Easter weekend, the monday following it is a national holiday meaning you get the day off from work. Eastern comes from the Germanic (people that largely influenced this part of Europe where Germany was named after) feast of Ostara, a fertility goddess, that was celebrated at this time because the chickens would now start to lay eggs again (we now have bred chickens that breed all year round, but back in the day people longed for the chickens to lay eggs again). Ostara liked both chickens, rabbits and hares for there fertility properties. We start at breakfast usually with a yellow tablecloth adorned with yellow chicklits and or hares (the bunny being a hare). Eggs are served predominantly abd are or already painted or painted at the the table or later in the day. Before breakfast or sometimes after there is a egg hunt where real or chocolate eggs have been hidden and now must be found. This is usually left to the children but adults join in also. The rest of the weekend is usually spend with family making use of the free monday following it. There is also a race event this weekend. Pentacost This is usually also is a weekend spend with (extended) family and a national holiday also extanded by a 2nd pentacost day on the monday, which you also take off from work, mostly mandatory. There is also an old pop music festival called PinkPop (as Pentacost is 'Pinksteren') in Dutch, that is very popular as an alternative to spend this weekend. Ascension It always on Thursday and also a day off in the Netherlands so usually employees also take the Friday off creating yet another streak of off days. Again often used to do things with friends and family. Sinterklaas This feast is what has become mutated into Christmas in other countries. Sinterklaas is the collogial? name for St. Nicolaas (Saint Nicolas, does that ring a bell yet...?), an old Saint that was good to poor people. By legend he visited a house where three daughters lived that could not get married because they could not pay the dowry. He trew in 3 golden coins. There are multiple saints called Nicolas and none of them ever visited Spain, he lived in Myra in what now is Turkey. Nevertheless Sinterklaas the legend comes from Spain where he lives in a castle with his paid servant Black Pete. The garments that Black Pete wares are clothes of a Spanish nobleman, not those worn by slaves. Later they became a large group of servants, the Black Petes. This part of the story has given rise to much controversy because of that his sevant might have been a slave and because the Black Pete's are usually white people with black painted faces. The story now is that his face is black from the sooth, black pete also enters by the chimney and the people who play him are not fully painted black but have black smudges. Black Pete carries a bag of candy and 'pepernoten' (gingerbread nuts). These where traditionally trown at the children (referring back to the legend of the golden coins) but because of practicality and hygiene are now often handed out or in Corona time dispatched in plastic bags. On December 5th the family sits at the diner table. The curtains are closed which is very unusual in the Netherlands and very impractical for the children who now can not see anyone approaching the front door. Then there is a loud knock at the door, but when it is opened no one is there. There is however a large sack of gifts. Before this highlight a special news bulletin will follow the arrival and adventures of Sinterklaas in the previous month and periodically small gifts are left in the shoes of children. Christmas As said Christmas mutated from Sinterklaas, the Jul (Big Hunt by the Northern Gods), the feast of light and the eding of winter (a very hard and sometimes deadly time in the olden days). Saint Nicholas a merger of Sinterklaas, Wotan the head of the Scandinavian or Germanic Gods, and some other pixie lore and myths. It was Christened Christmas to subdue the pagan beliefs over time and to celebrate to birth of Christ. Although the Catholic church and the rest of the world do not know when Chist was born, it is unlikely that it was during winter time because all of the cattle and the shepards where out in the fields and sleeping there. It origins still shine through though. Santa Claus is called Saint Nick, refering to Sint Nicolaas aka Sinterklaas. The evergreen tree represented fertility and a residence to winter, the lights in it the return of the light and there summer. 'May your Jul times, be gay and merry' or something I don't remember the lyrics exactly refers to the Jul, etcetera. Christmas is celebrated like in the US, doubling our Christmas time 😊. Although we often pick either Christmas or Sinterklaas to do the presents. And we never make Turkey, that's your tradition.

[@user-Dutchie]

You did your homework 👍🏼

[@dutchyatchateau]

Toen mijn kinderen klein waren zette ze hun schoen altijd voor het raam, ze geloofden dat hij door de schoorsteen kwam: maar ze vroegen nooit waar de opening van de schoorsteen was🤣🤣🤣🤣. En op sinterklaasavond bonsde de buurman op de deur en legde de zak met cadeaus neer en rende dan hard weg .😛😛

[@MartinWebNatures]

Ja dat was hier ook het geval. Een jutezak met kadootjes. 😂

[@renebosch5917]

When I was in Kindergarten there was a boy who moved to another town and thus disappeared from our school. However ... that happened to be around Sinterklaas and the rest of us were all shocked as we thought he was indeed taken away to Spain in a sack. Incidentally ... you forgot to mention that putting your shoe in front of the fireplace also should include putting a carrot in there for the horse. I once calculated that this means the horse had to eat thousands of tons of carrots in one night.

[@SoultoSoulTravels]

That was the funnest thing I’ve read in a while 😀😂… thanks Eric

[@jackdekraaij603]

Fun fact: the official (and only) post office of Santa Claus is located in Rovaniemi, Finland (in the polar circle), so not 'right in the center as you claimed ;-) )

[@elisabethtucker7229]

i turn on the heat in December i just use a blanket if i get cold

[@gerrygrouwe70]

Watch kraomschudden in Mariaparochie by herman Finkers and you now about dutch xmass

[@wendyswanderlust]

😂

[@schiffelers3944]

The stockings are a twist from the schoen zetten tradition's. Also this is not just Dutch - other parts in European countries, or even entire other European countries have this, maybe with a personalized national flair. Krampus has connections to (Black) Pete's role if we go far back enough in origins of lores and mythologies of these Guardians (Legend of the Guardians).

[@harrybruijs2614]

They are also the companions of Wodan the bezerkers. This were a kind of German Special Forces, who speciality was attacking at night, therefore the black faces. They were a bit mad , because of the drugs they had taken (bezerk). Sinterklaas is the Christinized Wodan, who was introduced about the year 1000 by the wife of emperor Otto 2, who was a niece of the Byzantine emperor. Schimmel was Schlapnir the horse of Wodan, he road over the clouds .

[@42earthling]

Santa is derived from Sinterklaas which was brought and celebrated by the Dutch after their arrival in the US. The British colonies within the US mixed it with their tradition of Father Christmas. Out of that mix, since 1773, we now have and know Santa Claus as the bringer of gifts. With that out of the way, let's look at Sinterklaas. It isn't solely Dutch as some believe, it is actually quite wide spread within Western Europe, and in Germany and Austria, we find the more original form of Sinterklaas accompanied by Krampus and or the Perchten. It is neither solely Dutch nor just a children's celebration either, in essence, it is about fertility and transformation and is rooted in our pre-Christian pagan religion. That religion is Yggdrasil, the Norse/Germanic tree of life. Though the ecclesiastical power has tried to destroy all pagan traditions, it has survived in remote areas where the ecclesiastical power was limited or non existent. A bit of symbolism. Odin is often displayed as a one-eyed god with a spear, two black ravens (Huginn, thought and Muninn, memory) and two wolves (Geri, eagerness and Freki, miserliness). The ravens fly across the nine worlds, and when they return, they tell Odin the news of the worlds. In folklore tradition, the helpers of Sinterklaas find out who is good and bad, and thus Sinterklaas of course, has his big book with all the information on who was bad and who has been good. The tree of life consists of the upper world (aces), the middle world (garden of the living), and the underworld (seeds or those not yet reborn or awakened) Fruma jiuleis is old Gothic Germanic language that points to the time before Yule. During this period, the gates of the upper world and underworld open up to the middle world, and gods from the upper world and underworld come to the middle world to prepare for the wild hunt. The wild hunt is aimed at Fenrir (greed), which devours the sun. In November, Sinterklaas comes to visit with his helpers, who are black or at least painted very dark. Nothing to do with racism or the human race, the color black is symbolic for mystical, latent, or, to make it poetic, potential in the seed. The chimney is the symbolic gateway to the upper world, and the water well is the symbolic gateway to the underworld. The bag or basket is symbolic for a womb, i think you will start to see that the true meaning of it all is transformation, how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. :) It is very bluntly written because i can't write a whole page or book here. The candy in the baskets. You'll find some similar symbolism in Germanic tales such as Hans en Grietje, after they defeat the witch (false self) - which they push into the oven and thus burn- they find pearls and gold, which is symbolic for insight, lessons of the soul, and purity of the soul. Because the moon was leading in those ancient times with periods of one and a half moons from new to full or from full to new, there is no date for Yule. A cyle of 8 moon periods with 12 nights complete the sun's year, those 12 nights were the period between the cycles and dedicated to Holda, goddess of the underworld. Of course, we now know them as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Hopefully i haven't made to many writting errors. :)