Sinterklaas gifts shown below are available
all year long.
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Sinterklaas at
Nelis’
Dutch Village |
Sinterklaas visits with families. |
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The Legend of Sinterklaas |
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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 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 this 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. A large chocolate letter - (for the first initial in the name of each person present) is a part of each place setting. |
Large gingerbread (Tai Tai) men and
women, a traditional treat share the table.
Early
in the evening special seasonal treats are served while those gathered take turns
unwrapping their gifts. Traditionally this is the evening that
Sinterklaas and Piet ride across the rooftops of
Holland looking for and rewarding good children with small gifts
and candies.
In anticipation of Sinterklaas' visit, children have placed carrots and oats in their wooden shoes by the door for Sinterklaas' big white horse. The following morning, gifts from Sinterklaas, many with hilarious poems attached, are opened and the poems read aloud. A day of feasting follows. This traditional Dutch celebration of Sinterklaas or St. Nicholas is credited with being the basis of our Santa Claus tradition in the United States |
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| Sinterklaas and Piet hand painted & lacquered Wooden Shoes |
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| Sinterklaas - 30cm Shoes | Sinterklaas - 26cm Shoes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
