Sunday, December 2, 2007

Sinterklaas

Later today as part of our Christmas traditions, we are going to celebrate Sinterklaas at the Dutch Canadian Society in London Ontario. This probably will be the Dutch tradition my children remember for the rest of their lives. Oma and Opa are away on a cruise right now but Aaron and Jenna still want to go to the annual party.
Aaron wants to proudly sing "Sinterklaas kapoentje, gooi wat in mijn schoentje, gooi wat in mijn laarsje, dank u, Sinterklaasje." It means Saint-Nicolas Ii beg of you, Put something in my little shoe, Put something in my little boot, Thank you little Saint-Nicolas! It is one of the most known of traditional Dutch Sinterklaas songs. Some of you might recognize it from "Miracle on 34th Street". Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) and the little Dutch girl (Marlene Lyden) in the 1934 movie "The Miracle On 34th Street"
Here is a link to a hip hop version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI3tZgsnq5I
As legend has it Sinterklaas (Saint Nicolas) himself was born in Myra in Western Turkey in the year 364 and is still alive today. He lives in Madrid, but travels to Holland every year by Steamboat. He became a guardian of merchants, sailors and children. Each year, on Dec. 5th , the eve of his birthday, Saint Nicholas arrives by steamer. At night, he stops on the roofs of the houses on his white horse. He drops presents in the chimneys, which fall right into the shoes of obedient, nice children. The children have placed their shoes close to the fire, often filled with straw or carrots for the saint's horse. They sing a few songs before going to sleep, because they know that he likes singing children more than anything.
Some say that Santa Claus is simply an adaption of Sinterklaas. On the way to America he has traded his horse for a reindeer and made some changes in his appearance.

Hope you enjoy the traditions of the season as much as we do.

1 comments:

Carl said...

Thanks for the Sinterklaas kapoentje translation! Our kids have been asking for it and the Dutch wording! Although I'm Canadian-born to Dutch parents and never celebrated Sinterklaas as a child, my wife and I are having a Sinterklass night this week with shuffleboard, pepernotten, hot chocolate (my wife made some awesome bitterbal) and a grab barrel full of newspaper and dollar-store gifts.

What other games and treats would children enjoy for Sinterklaas?