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Nov. 18th, 2007 08:52 pmSo, as I mentioned, am in Holland with various second cousins and first cousins once removed (don't really know which is which, but these are people who's parents are the siblings of my grandparents. Mostly.)
Anyway, i did know that hereabouts they have Sinterklas, who gives presents on the 5 of december, which is his birthday (St Nicholas, that is). But did you know he is already in Holland? He comes from Spain, in a boat, with a white horse, and a crowd of "Schwartz Piet", or boys in black face paint. Originally Schwartz Piet would give out coal to bad children, but nowadays there are a lot of him and he will give candies to everyone. (And also pose for pictures with random Australians, score!) Sinterklas wears a red bishops suit and a full white beard; his horse can climb up on the roof of your house so Schwartz Piet can drop down the chimney with your presents. But not flying! I asked if the horse (Schimmer) can fly but no! not ever.
And Sinterklas arrived last night! He was interviewed on tv, and then there was a dance party, and then this morning on tv he was introduced to the mayor in a town somewhere on the coast. This afternoon he got to Sint-Oederode, and there was a parade, and there were small children everywhere all excited and full of sugar.
They have Kerstman, the christmas man, as well, who might bring presents on christmas eve, but no one really believes in him, not like kids believe in Santa Claus or Sinterklas. The small child in the house I am staying in is 8, and yesterday asked if Sinterklas really existed; his mother told him he could believe if he wanted to. So he went to the shop and bought a chocolate letter to put in his shoe. But now he has decided that surprises are better after all and so he doesn't want to do that again!
Anyway, i did know that hereabouts they have Sinterklas, who gives presents on the 5 of december, which is his birthday (St Nicholas, that is). But did you know he is already in Holland? He comes from Spain, in a boat, with a white horse, and a crowd of "Schwartz Piet", or boys in black face paint. Originally Schwartz Piet would give out coal to bad children, but nowadays there are a lot of him and he will give candies to everyone. (And also pose for pictures with random Australians, score!) Sinterklas wears a red bishops suit and a full white beard; his horse can climb up on the roof of your house so Schwartz Piet can drop down the chimney with your presents. But not flying! I asked if the horse (Schimmer) can fly but no! not ever.
And Sinterklas arrived last night! He was interviewed on tv, and then there was a dance party, and then this morning on tv he was introduced to the mayor in a town somewhere on the coast. This afternoon he got to Sint-Oederode, and there was a parade, and there were small children everywhere all excited and full of sugar.
They have Kerstman, the christmas man, as well, who might bring presents on christmas eve, but no one really believes in him, not like kids believe in Santa Claus or Sinterklas. The small child in the house I am staying in is 8, and yesterday asked if Sinterklas really existed; his mother told him he could believe if he wanted to. So he went to the shop and bought a chocolate letter to put in his shoe. But now he has decided that surprises are better after all and so he doesn't want to do that again!
