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When is Children’s Day in the Netherlands

Children’s Day is a holiday for all children. The normal time is June 1, but the Netherlands is different. Children’s Day in the Netherlands is called Sinterklaas St. Nicholas Eve, and it falls on the 5th day of December every year. And this day is also related to Santa Claus, who sends gifts to children.

Every December 6th is the traditional European “St. Nikolas Day” (St.Nikolas day). Legend has it that on this day of the year, Nicholas brings sweets and small gifts to the children, while his entourage, Krampus, punishes those who do bad things during the year. Some countries also use December 6 as a religious memorial day, “St. Nicholas Day”, giving gifts to children and the poor.

Main Character

Saint Nicholas

The name of the festival of St. Nicholas comes from the kindly white-bearded grandfather whose name is St. Nicholas. Every year, St. Nicholas sails from Spain to the Netherlands for a grand festival. He wore a red robe and a pointed red hat with a golden cross painted on it. He held a golden staff and rode a white horse to lead the festival procession through the crowd. Wherever he passed, he would be warmly welcomed by the Dutch people.

Black Pete

Piet was St. Nicholas’ assistant and was called Zwarte Piet because of his dark body (zwart means “black” in Dutch). Unlike St. Nicholas, who appeared in a stately and noble image, Peter generally dressed in the clothes of acrobats and clowns, and his appearance was comical and often mischievous.

In recent years, there has also been some controversy over the image of Black Peter, because some people think that the existence of Black Peter implies black slavery and contains racial discrimination. But for most Dutch people, black Peter is simply a popular holiday character, a messenger to bring joy to children. Every year, many people volunteer to dress up as Black Peter to help St. Nicholas complete various tasks, and his funny and funny appearance also adds more liveliness and festivity to the festival.

character archetype
St. Nicholas (270-346) is the prototype of Santa Claus and a real bishop in the history of ancient Rome. At the end of the 3rd century AD, St. Nicholas was born in Patara, on the Mediterranean coast. Although he was born in a wealthy family, he was careful and kind, benevolent, and often helped the poor. St. Nicholas likes to give gifts to the local poor in an anonymous way. After his death in 346 AD, he was honored as a saint, and his deeds later evolved into the legend of Santa Claus today.

Custom

Chocolate letter

Alphabet chocolate is a special traditional food on St. Nicholas Day, and it is very popular with children. The letter chocolate shape that everyone gets is usually the first letter of their name.

Peppernuts

Another festive speciality is Pepernoten, which are pepper-flavored biscuits with a hint of spiciness in the sweet biscuits for a very special taste.

Package night

Pakjesavond is a holiday custom that started after the end of World War II. The developed economy has given St. Nicholas a wider space for the development of the “giving culture”. People give gifts to each other anonymously in the name of St. Nicholas on this day. , greeting cards and poems signed “St. Nicholas and Black Peter” children will put their shoes by the fireplace on this night, and wait for “St. Nicholas and Black Peter who entered from the chimney” to bring gifts and sweets on the in.