This post is going to be a long one! You better grab a beverage and
settle in for the Deters annual Sinterklaas extravaganza!
I found a synopsis explaining this very cool tradition.....
The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is an annual event which is celebrated on December 6th. The day is observed by exchanging gifts and making good-natured fun of each other.
All Dutch children know that Sinterklaas lives in Spain. Exactly why he does remains a mystery, but that is what all the old songs and nursery rhymes say. He spends most of the year recording the behavior of all children in a big red book, while his helper Black Peter stocks up on presents for next December 5th. Sinterklaas gets on his white horse, Peter ("Piet") swings a huge sack full of gifts over his shoulder, and the three of them board a steamship headed for the Netherlands.
The old bishop and his helpmate are suddenly everywhere at once. At night they ride across Holland's' rooftops and Sinterklaas listens through the chimneys to check on the children's behavior. Piet jumps down the chimney flues and makes sure that the carrot or hay the children have left for the horse in their shoes by the fireplace is exchanged for a small gift or some candy. During the day, Sinterklaas and Piet are even busier, visiting schools, hospitals, department stores, restaurants, offices and many private homes. Piet rings doorbells, scatters sweets through the slightly opened doors and leaves presents by the front door.
The Dutch are busy too - shopping for, and more importantly, making presents. Tradition demands that all packages be camouflaged in some imaginative way, and that every gift be accompanied by a fitting poem. This is the essence of Sinterklaas: lots of fun on a day when people are not only allowed, but expected, to make fun of each other in a friendly way. Children, parents, teachers, employers and employees, friends and co-workers tease each other and make fun of each others' habits and mannerisms. Another part of the fun is how presents are hidden or disguised. Recipients often have to go on a treasure hunt all over the house, aided by hints, to look for them. They must be prepared to dig their gifts out of the potato bin, to find them in a jello pudding, in a glove filled with wet sand, in some crazy dummy or doll. Working hard for your presents and working even harder to think up other peoples' presents and get them ready is what the fun is all about.
The original poem accompanying each present is another old custom and a particularly challenging one. Here the author has a field day with his subject (the recipient of the gift). Foibles, love interests, embarrassing incidents, funny habits and well-kept secrets are all fair game. The recipient, who is the butt of the joke, has to open his/her package in public and read the poem aloud amid general hilarity.
On the day of the 5th, most places of business close a bit earlier than normal. The Dutch head home to a table laden with the same traditional sweets and baked goods eaten for St. Nicholas. Large chocolate letters - the first initial of each person present - serve as place settings. Early in the evening, sweets are eaten while those gathered take turns unwrapping their gifts and reading their poems out loud so that everyone can enjoy the impact of the surprise. The emphasis is on originality and personal effort rather than the commercial value of the gift, which is one reason why Sinterklaas is such a delightful event for young and old alike.
We started the afternoon with the Dutch-Canadian Club
Sinterklaas celebrations for the little ones:
See Auntie Keri......I can finally wear a barrette!
Yes, Miss Olivia can drink through a straw!
Does she know how to party, or what?!
Hayden LOVES his spekulas cookies!
Opa and Sienna
Tessa & Sienna were coloring.....but paused to say "CHEESE!"
Hayden had to steal a quick hug....
Hayden, Brody & Sienna were anxious to sit with Sinterklaas.....
When we got home, Oma & Opa had
special surprises for the kids:
After dinner, and a LOT of excitement,
it was tubby time for the kids......
to enjoy their Sinterklaas celebration:
Paps drew Mams' name for the first timein Sinterklaas history!
She loves to be comfy on the couch under the
infamous red blanket!
infamous red blanket!
Mams drew my name and made me a much needed spa!
It turns out, I didn't have to dig through the mud(aka chocolate pudding) bath to find my gift!!
Tessa had Paps this year and made him tear apart"deck" boards to find clues to his gift.....
....but he didn't get off that easy.He had two decks to demolish before he got his present.
Ralph outdid himself and made a working safethat Scott had to find the combination for
in order to get his presents!
With some careful calculations, he cracked the code!
Coincidentally, Scott had Ralph!A specially crafted RALPHSMAN drill held
clues for Ralph's real gift.
I drew Tessa's name and in an effort to help her finda new hairstyle, created the Tessa 'tato head.....
...complete with accesories!We always look forward to making our Sinterklaas presents for one another,
and this year was no exception.
It is lots of work, but it is so much fun to see everyone's
reaction when we share our surprises!
Until next year 'Sint!
