Tale
Good evening!
Today I want to tell you about Sinterklaas, party, or rather, I should say person, I have often heard of. not easy to find a definition, but I will try maybe a little 'more or less confusedly to explain what it is.
Then, starting from the identification itself. Sinteklaas is none other than St. Nicholas, which is celebrated on December 6 and then. For the Netherlands and Flanders, however, is generally much more! It 'a kind of ancestor of Santa Claus, but much loved. The best thing is that everyone, and I mean absolutely everything to the last year of primary school children about believe in him. Sinterklaas arrives in Holland from Spain-it lives in a castle there in mid-November on his steamboat, accompanied by his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten, all of the kids because of the soot-blackened chimney. His arrival was televised, and there are all the children in celebration to welcome the canals, and begin the typical rituals. What ritual? First there are the typical foods of Sinterklaas. I'm talking about: pepernoten, kruidnoten, marzipan.
But more typical, more fun and perhaps even more crazy is the Zetten schoen! Children put their shoes near the fireplace (now more likely to close the window or radiator!) In the evening, leaving them a carrot or any food for Sinterklaas's horse, Amerigo. Sint walking in the night with his horse over the rooftops and go Zwarte Pieten fireplace chimney to leave gifts for children. Of course, this being my first and last Sinterklaas, I adapted to the traditions of the children and I've also done my Zetten schoen!
Sinterklaas also is celebrated by the entire family on the evening of December 5. It therefore takes a very special gift exchange. Generally, a draw is made, so that each family member should take just one gift. This should be wrapped in a somewhat 'special in what is called "surprise" or something a bit' special that may be paper, cardboard, clay, fabric, and can represent anything that has to do with the content or the recipient. In other words, it takes an attack of art. And it does not end there. This must also be accompanied by a kind of poem / nursery rhyme to rhyme. Difficult, eh?
This is my first surprise, I did for Caitlin, another AFSer.
Clearly there are also dozens and dozens of songs for children! These are the most typical, I have learned only the shortest, kapoentje Sinterklaas!
Historically, St. Nicholas was a bishop, which remains in clothing typical of this figure.
its development I have heard two different versions: one (probably the most reliable) states that the Dutch who founded New Amsterdam, and the ongoing New York, took this picture in the United States and some 'similarity to the called Santa Claus. In the other version is said instead was clearly a Sint Sinterklaas, which is a saint, so with the arrival of Protestant movements, Calvinist and Anglican in countries like Britain, the figure clearly Catholic was converted in the most anonymous Santa Claus and the Netherlands preferred to maintain the tradition.
I then found myself in a country where large do anything because the children keep them that way, why do not you lose the joy of finding the gift brought by a loving old man. At first it seemed absurd that aired on the news every day of Sinterklaas, which were put in contact with the boat to see if the fantastic trip was going well, it seemed absurd that parents really were not doing all so busy find out the truth to their children. But then I watched it with different eyes, and I realized that there is nothing more beautiful than the children who enjoy in full their childhood believing in the magic, horses over the rooftops, in the gifts that come down the chimney. I'm not saying there is not even on this consumerism and speculation, but in a sense you feel less, because the spirit of Sinterklaas is there, and is loud and clear, is less luxury and caprice, more creativity and family.
You should see how much joy not only in children but also in all the adults who are complicit in this beautiful lie dressed up as Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet by inventing the best excuse when a child recognizes his grandfather in disguise, bringing home kruidnoten , carrots and gifts at night!
Eli, yes, he means hij ... I guess you should ask for some similarity (or equality?) with the German.
conclude that my post and I thank you again for following me with such warmth, affection and above all so much interest!
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