In the United States, Christmas is the day around the winter holiday that gifts are given. In many cultures in Europe, including Holland, St. Nicholas Day is more a time to give gifts than Christmas. St. Nicholas in Dutch is Sinterklaas.
In Holland, Sinterklaas comes in November. There's a long story about who he is, where he comes from, and who is helpers are. Each story is a little different from the other, but they all include Sinterklaas in a red suit with a white beard. He's slim, not fat. And he doesn't have elves, but zwarte piets.
I also had the chance to run into Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piets; however, I think I'm a little too old to believe that the one I met was the real one ... if there is a real one ...
No comments:
Post a Comment