Put out the Wooden Shoes....

Time to put out the Klompens(wooden shoes) to celebrate the coming of Sinter Klaas.  My father's family is from Holland and so to teach my children a little history of their ancestors I have made sure to incorporate some fun traditions that their great grandparents have grown up with.  One of the fun things we celebrate as Dutch people is the tradition of putting out the wooden shoes to be filled with treats and presents.  

Mid-November marks the start of the Sinterklaas or St. Nicholas season in the Netherlands. It begins with preparations for the parade on the last Sunday in November. Sinterklaas, with his white horse Schimmel and helper, Zwarte Piet arrive by boat and lead a merry parade throughout the town.



The feast day of Sinterklaas is December 6th. This is a time for exchanging gifts and making good-natured fun of each other. Throughout the Netherlands, the eve of his feast day, December 5th is celebrated nationwide by young and old. Most places of business close a bit earlier than normal. The Dutch head home to a table laden with traditional sweets and baked goods.



Large chocolate letters - the first initial of each person present - is a part of each place setting. These treats share the table with large gingerbread (Tai Tai) men and women.

Early in the evening sweets are eaten while those gathered take turns unwrapping their gifts. Traditionally this is the evening that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet ride across the rooftops of Holland looking for and rewarding good children with small gifts and candies.



In anticipation of the visit, children place carrots and oats for Sinterklaas’ white horse Schimmel, in their wooden shoes by the door.The following morning, gifts from Sinterklaas, many with hilarious poems attached, are opened and the poems read aloud.



A day of feasting follows. This tradition of a St. Nicholas celebration is credited with being the basis of our Santa Claus tradition here in the United States.