I was just reading another web site and learned (after living here for seven plus years) that in Belgium, they celebrate Sinterklaas on the 6th of December. In the morning. The eager starry-eyed kids hang their socks on the eve of 5th December and in the morning they wake up with their socks filled with gifts and wonderful goodies.
The Dutch on the other hand celebrates Sinterklaas on the 5th of December. In the evening. And no socks.
Quite an interesting cultural discovery on Sinterklaas practice variation there I must say. I think the Belgian version is more thrilling because you have to sleep the night through (it must be a torture to sleep!) before getting your presents the next day. When I was a little kid, my brother and I also hang socks on the 24th of December and the next day we would have our presents. The family tradition stopped somehow along the way and I don’t really remember when, it kind of just drifted away when we became 'too old' for surprises.
Lots of cadeautjes on the floor. We opened them one by one and it took hours but it was nice. It's one of those nice practices, you open the gift in front of everyone, and everyone does the same thing too, including the reading of poems. I promise next Sinterklaas I will make a poem too!
Our Sinterklaas meal is home-cooked traditional fare: chicken quiche (really yummy), mashed potatoes from real potatoes, rookworst stew (typical Dutch sausage) with beans and carrots and salad whipped with balsamico, olive oil and some feta cheese on the side. I even went back for a second serving which I regretted. Next foto is a slice of 'banketstaaf' (almond pastry), another Sinterklaas goodie eaten all day round during the holidays and after dinner with coffee or tea. It was a miracle I still fit in to a size 36 the next day when I went shopping in Utrecht for a party dress.
Dutchman and I went home pleased, our two bags which were loaded earlier with gifts for the family, now loaded with gifts we received including our every year obligatory present from Sinterklaas (the Dutch parents actually lol), chocolate letters with our initials. I also got one from work!
So with Sinterklaas behind our backs, we are now looking forward to Christmas. Dutchman is in the mood to put up the tree, he even told me twice today. It’s fine by me as long as he is the one doing it. Ach, I am so lazy these days. I’d rather have some flowers at home than putting Christmas decors.
The temperatures are also still higher than normal. Today it rained while I was in Utrecht Centrum.
Next weekend we are going up north in the country and the week after that to a Christmas Market in Germany. I’m also in the mood to celebrate New Years somewhere—Paris, London, Berlin, even Amsterdam? Dutchman however is trying to convince me that for the 5-10 minute amazing display of fireworks, you must stand outside in the cold for HOURS. HMM.
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