shoes and sweets

find us quickly if you can

 

sinterklaas, i beg of you,

drop something into my shoe,

something sweet or sweeter.

thank you, sinterklaas and peter!

put your long red mantle on,

sinterklaas, good man,

drive your sleigh from amsterdam

and find us quickly if you can.

 

--- traditional dutch sinterklaas poem

 



image from here



today, the dutch will celebrate the holiday of sinterklaas all over the country. it is the main day of gift giving during the xmas season.  stefan has fond memories of this day growing up.

 
on the eve of sinterklaas' arrival, it is custom for children to put one shoe in front of the fireplace, sing sinterklaas songs, and go to bed.  during the night, sinterklaas and his helper, peter, climb through the chimney and fill the shoes with sweets... much to the delight of the children in the morning. if you don't have a fireplace, no worries, stefan and his sister placed their shoes by the front door because it was common knowledge that sinterklaas had a key to everyone's house!

on being reminded about sinterklaas, kai immediately picked up his and his dad's shoes to put by the front door.  i will be at work by the time he discovers his stash of sweets but i am pretty sure sinterklaas was very generous to the dutch boys in my house this year.

to read more about this festive day, go here.