Sinterklaas In The Netherlands
Sinterklaas the patron of children and sailors finds a welcoming community in the mid hudson valley as we re create the story through the lens of modern day america.
Sinterklaas in the netherlands. The arrival was shown in an extra long episode of the. He wears a long red cape or chasuble over a traditional white bishops alb and a sometimes red stole dons a red mitre and ruby ring and holds a gold coloured crosier a long. The official national sinterklaas intocht arrival event is taking place on saturdaybut due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis the lieve goede sint will be arriving in zwalk a fictional town that was chosen to ensure there wouldnt be any crowds at the event.
Since 1952 the arrival of sinterklaas has been a televised event which sees the sint and his zwarte pieten land in style from their steam boat from spain although sinterklaas has been known to arrive by train plane. Built around the image of saint nicholas the patron saint of children sinterklass the name resulting from the contraction of sint nikolaas is a legendary christmas figure celebrated and loved in the netherlands. The meertens institute says the first intocht van sinterklaas or the arrival of sinterklaas took place in zwolle in 1873 when a couple of well to do farmers had a local prankster dress up as sinterklaas distributing sweets to poor children.
Nicholas eve is not an official public holiday in the netherlands. Over the past few months a number of dutch cities have cancelled or reworked their sinterklaas. The saintly man arrives each year in mid november on a steam boat filled with gifts and together with his helpers all referred to as piet peter.
The national sinterklaas intocht. Accompanied by his white horse schimmel sinterklaas or sint niklaas saint nicholas arrives in the netherlands with his helpers the zwarte pieten black peter to signify the start of the holiday. This is the celebration where children are transformed into kings and queens and honored as the bringers of the light at the darkest time of year.
Upon arrival sinterklaas immediately proceeds to the grotepietenhuis where he stays during his visit to the netherlands. However many businesses dedicated. This guide to sinterklaas saint nicholas is to help parents navigate the sinterklaas tradition and get their children involved in the local dutch festivities.
Sinterklaas intocht saint nicholas arrives from spain every year in mid november sinterklaas arrives in amsterdam by means of a steamboat that has sailed all the way from spain. The arrival of sinterklass by boat to the netherlands is one of the biggest dutch festivals loved by parents and children alike. Sinterklaas also known as saint nicholas is dear to the hearts of dutch children.
The tradition of sinterklaas comes all the way from the netherlands brought by dutch settlers who arrived in rhinebeck over 300 years ago. He is depicted as an elderly stately and serious man with white hair and a long full beard. Sinterklaas is based on the historical figure of saint nicholas 270343 a greek bishop of myra in present day turkey.
He can be recognized by his eye catching red cape with red miter and his long white beard. St nicholas evesinterklaas in the netherlands celebrate saint nicholas eve.