When I was a little girl, a friend of mine named Perry came to visit during Christmas time.
I had not thought of Perry for years. That is until my mother brought me an old photo album last month on Thanksgiving with a photo of Perry & I wearing matching Mickey Mouse T-shirts and jeans, long light brown pig tails touching our shoulders.
The photo triggered the memory of that winter visit from my friend in 1976.
When Perry came to visit me this winter, we made Christmas cookies and told stories. Her mother had bought us both wooden shoes and I soon found out why.
She was quick to tell me we celebrated Christmas differently than she did. We were supposed to put our wooden shoes outside our bedroom doors and they would be filled with small gifts & treats.
I remember we argued on just how "Santa" would get into my house. I had no fireplace. My mother overheard us, she told us he had a magic key and could come in the front or back door. We didn't believe her, we snuck into the living room around 11pm to unlock the back door for Santa.
Perry called Santa Claus, Sinterclaus.
But she was sure he was a different person.
She drew a picture of him for me. He looked the same as Santa, but he wore blue and silver. I was amazed and swore he was Santa. He must have changed his clothes on his way to the U.S. We debated about it for hours, until we drove our parents crazy and told us to go to bed.
I had not thought of Sinter Klaas for many years but I remember the wonderful Christmas I had that year with Perry.
For fun, if only my own...here is a little about Sinter Klaas.
Have you heard of the Dutch tradition of Sinterclaus ?
Sinter Klaas rode a horse through the skies dressed in Bishop's clothing. In the Netherlands, children filled their shoes with hay and carrots for the horse of Sinter Klass.
Some say he arrives by ship with presents for the children.
Sinterklaas, who lives in Spain during the year, will arrive accompanied by his helper Piets. After he arrives he rides on a white horse to leave gifts for children who have been well-behaved.
Those who have been good will receive chocolate and other gifts in their shoes. Children leave their shoes by the fireplace with carrots and hay for the horse, which will be exchanged for small gifts, including Dutch Christmas candy such as speculaas, marsepein and pepernoten. Those who have been bad get coal or sticks instead.
The holiday is celebrated as St. Nicolas's Eve and St. Nicholas's Day on December 5 and 6.
Farmers blow horns each evening during the Christmas season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to scare away any evil spirits.
Many people in the Netherlands also celebrate Christmas again on December 25, when they will spend the day visiting friends and family. At least my friend Perry did.
December 26 is also a legal holiday.
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Comments: 11
I also like to read about others' memories.
But as long as you promise not to tell either country, I'll let you in on a little secret; there's scarcely any difference between the two.
Glædelig jul og godt nytår!
(By the way, would you mind passing the Dutch? Teehee, puns.)
But as long as you promise not to tell either country, I'll let you in on a little secret; there's scarcely any difference between the two.
Glædelig jul og godt nytår!
(By the way, would you mind passing the Dutch? Teehee, puns.) >>>>
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LOL...Thanks Soren
Do you believe in Sinter Klaas???
You'd think I'd know that....Denmark=Danish not Dutch....
I am searching my family history and am stuck on Peter Nelson b.1800 in Denmark
(guess that explains why I am stuck) ROFL
http://beta.visl.sdu.dk/visl/da/tools/translation_da2en.php
Glædelig jul og godt nytår!
Happy Christmas and good New Year!
To you too!!!
(Took me long enough)
It's interesting to spend the holidays abroad.