Sinterklaas

The family gathers an the children get presents from Saint Nicholas and his Black companion Piet. Naughty kids get taken to Spain. When older the family members exchange gifts an poems. Gingerbread, spiced baked pepernoten and marzipan are common treats on December 5th when the celebration takes place. Weeks before the Saint arrives on a boat from Spain and visits every hous every night , ridig on the rooftops with his horse. The children sing in front of the chimney so that he can hear that they are good and leaves treats in the shoes. To get those, the kids leave a carrot for the horse in the shoes. On December 6th the Saint leaves by boat.

More traditions from Netherlands →