Saint Nicholas was born in the Middle East about 350 miles northwest of Bethlehem in the fourth century. In the fourth century a.d. St. Nicholas (in dutch called "Sinterklaas" or "Sint Nicolaas") was the bishop of Myra (now Kale), his hometown, near the coast of what is now Turkey. Legends tell of his love for children, his kindness and the miracles he brought about.
According to the legend, he saved his town from starvation. He is
also said to have revived three dead children, and to have offered gifts
of dowries to poor girls. Some sources say that he died on the sixth of
December in 343. In 1087 his relics were taken to Bari in Italy during
the Crusades.
One of the most famous story of all tells how St. Nicholas helped three unfortunate young sisters who all had suitors but had no dowries because their father, a poor nobleman, could not raise the money. So they could not marry.
Now the bishop Nicholas was a shy man and did not like to give money directly , so he thought of a way to give it anonymously. When the first daughter was ready to marry, the good bishop tossed a bag of gold into the house at night. Later, when the second daughter prepared to marry, she too received a mysterious bag of gold. When the third daughter prepared to marry, the poor nobleman was determined to find out who had been so generous. So he kept watch and saw the bishop drop another bag of gold into the house. It has been said that Saint Nicholas climbed on the roof and dropped the third bag of gold down the chimney where it landed in a stocking hung to dry, giving us a reason to hang up Christmas stockings today. When the father saw what had happened, Nicholas begged him to keep the secret, but, of course, the news got out. From then on, whenever anyone received an unexpected gift, they thanked Nicholas.
His legendary gifts of dowries to poor girls led to the custom of giving gifts to children on the eve of his feast day, 6 December.
St. Nicolaas, more fondly known as "Sinterklaas" in Holland arrives each year in the Netherlands. Sinterklaas is a tall man with a red cloak, a bishops mitre, (hat) a long white beard and a curly topped staff. His arrival means chocolate letters, pepernoten, speculaas, presents and long, long riddles!!!
Check out the recipe for DUTCH SPECULAAS
It is unclear why, according to the Dutch tradition, he comes from Spain. Possibly it has something to do with the fact that St. Nicholas was the patron of sailors. In the 17th century Holland was famous for its navigation. Maybe by contact with Spanish sailors this myth began. It could also explain why St. Nicholas has "zwarte (black) pieten" to help him because the Moors dominated Spain for several hundreds of years. (Another explanation for 'zwarte piet' being black is that he has come down the chimneys so often (see below) that he can't wash the dirt off.)
The companions of St. Nicholas show the victory over evil. Together
with his "pieten" he visits children to punish the evil ones and to reward
the good ones. The worst punishment is to be taken to Spain in "zwarte
piet's" bag out of which the good children get the sweets (called "pepernoten",
"taai-taai", or "schuimpjes") and presents. A less radical punishment is
to get the "roede" (rod) instead of presents.
The saint, who travels from Spain to Holland accompanied by his white
horse and his knight, Black Peter (Zwarte Piet), as well as several "help"
Peters. St. Nicholas comes on a steamership with all his "pieten" and the
presents which they prepared in Spain during the year.
Legend goes that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet travel over the roofs of the Dutch houses at night by travelling on his horse, traditionally a white/grey.
The Dutch children put their shoes (used to be wooden shoes) in front of the fire place. Sometimes the children put straw, carrots and water near the shoe for the horse.
They sing songs. THIS IS A MUST!!!
You better learn THIS SONG
or you get NOTHING!
At night Zwarte Piet enters the houses through the chimney to put
little presents, gifts and candy in the children's shoes. (if they were
good children).
On the evening of December 5th, Dutch families celebrate Sinterklaas'
birthday (the name day of St. Nicolas is December 6th). For the smallest
children, who still believe, a loud knock on the door signifies the arrival
of Sinterklaas. Simultaneously, candy is thrown from upstairs by Zwarte
Piet. When the door is opened, a large bag full of gifts waits on the front
step.
For the older kids and adults, the feast takes on a different turn.
Each gift is concealed in a "surprise" (pronounced the French way). A surprise
is a gag. The surprise does not have to be gross, it can just touch on
a weakness or vice of the receiver. The surprise is accompanied by a teasing
poem. Around Sinterklaas, even the most prozaic Dutch become accomplished
poets!
Early in the morning of 6 December, when he has visited everyone,
he leaves and goes back to Spain, to come back next year.
The Dutch settlers who founded New Amsterdam (now New York) in the
17th century introduced Sinterklaas to America, where - like many immagrants
- he acquired a new name and new image. In Clement Clarke Moore's 1823
poem The Night Before Christmas, St. Nick is prtrayed not as a stern
and dignified bishop, but as a jovial old man with a paunch and a merry
laugh. According to Moore, Santa travels not on horseback, but in a sleigh
drawn by flying reindeer. When Bavarian artist Thomas Nast was commisioned
to draw St. Nicholas for Harper's Iilustrated Weekly in 1870, he
gave the saint a pipe, red cheeks and a red-and-white stocking cap with
a tassel. Santa Claus was born.