Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas is the Dutch term for a popular front adjacent to the historic St. Nicholas of Myra shape. He is a main character in a children's festival, which is celebrated on 5 december in the Netherlands on 6 December in Belgium as well as in many former Dutch colonies. His companion is traditionally the Zwarte Piet.

Description

According to tradition, Sinterklaas rides a white horse over the rooftops and his helpers Zwarte Piet comes with the chimney in the house, to bring the children living there gifts. He helps his bishop clothes, a red robe and a crosier.

Many traditions go back on the St. Nicholas of Myra, whose date of death is December 6. Originally Sint- Nicolaas was celebrated only in the East. In the 13th century it was decided that his name- should be an important feast day in the West. During this time the Sinterklaas festival in Utrecht was thus celebrated that the shoes were filled by poor children with coins. In other cities, a lot has been done for the poor on this day.

After the Dutch revolt against Philip II of Spain Church circles trying to abolish the Sinterklaas feast because it contained too many pagan and Catholic elements. The festival was already become so popular even in the predominantly Protestant population that this effort had little success.

Holiday

Today, Saint Nicholas is abolished as a legal holiday worldwide.

Pakjesavond

In the Netherlands, there is this tradition since the 15th century. First, this practice took place in the church, as an offering for the poor. From archives can be seen that since 1427 the Sint Nicolaas church in Utrecht on December 5, the Pakjesavond ( " packet evening " ), shoes were erected. Rich Utrecht put coins in the shoes for the poor to these offerings the next day received, the official date of death of St. Nicholas.

From the 16th century descriptions are known, after which children set their shoes at home. Painter Jan Steen has held the Sinterklaas evening in the 17th century on two images. These can also be seen well, which was placed the children in their shoes: cake, candy and toys. Even today the shoes are placed before the fireplace, in front of the central heating system or to the back door in many areas in the Netherlands between the official arrival of Sinterklaas ( mid-November ) and the evening of the 5th of December and on the following morning ( pakjesochtend ) emptied. The setting up of the shoes usually happens once or twice a week. The actual festival is celebrated on the evening of December 5, the eve of the holy day. In the south of the Netherlands and parts of Belgium Sinterklaas is celebrated on the evening of December 6.

On Pakjesavond Sinterklaas brings gifts, especially toys for the children. This " packet evening " goes back to a pre-Christian tradition, were distributed at the gifts in the round. Apples and nuts were going autumnal symbols of fertility of the soil. This stray evening took in the course of time the place of the actual Sinterklaas feast.

Spain

The Dutch tradition Sinterklaas after traveling every year from Spain. St. Nicholas was born in Patara, which is now in Turkey. In the year 280 it belonged to the former Byzantine Empire. He later became Bishop of Myra. He took, among others in the First Council of Nicaea. He died on 6 December 342 After the Muslims had conquered this area, the remains of the saint were brought to Bari, in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies where Charles V later became king. His son, Philip II inherited the Netherlands, Spain and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. From this period dates the tradition that Sinterklaas comes from Spain. Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of seafaring. Therefore, Sinterklaas comes by steamboat, usually Pakjesboot 12, in the Netherlands.

Regional differences and " competition" from Santa Claus

The Sinterklaas feast is celebrated throughout the Netherlands, except in the Frisian village of Grou. There you will celebrate on February 21, Sint- Piter. Apart from the name, its origin and the color of his Talars (Sint - Piter a personification of St. Peter 's ) (white instead of red ), is Sint- Piter almost identical to Sinterklaas.

On the Frisian islands, the Customs deviates greatly from the rest of the Netherlands. There you will celebrate on December 5 Sunderklaas. In the streets the men masked run around while women and children must stay at home. Who will still be recognized as a woman or girl on the street gets a " strike" as punishment. But it is especially true among the indigenous young women as a challenge to participate in the parade without being caught, and thus to tease the men. A similar Customs will take place on the same day under the name Klaasohm on the East Frisian island of Borkum, which is the Frisian Islands the next.

On Texel is celebrated a week after the Sinterklaas celebration the "old Sunderklaas ". Disguised and masked this is the last year taken " on the hook " ( similar to Krampus ).

Also in Flanders is not celebrated everywhere at the same time. In the region of Aalst and in Westhoek Poperinge and the holy Saint Martin is celebrated on November 11. The accompanying legend differs slightly from that of Sinterklaas. In the small community of West Outer The angels are celebrated. The origin of this is unclear, but it should go back to British soldiers during the First World War.

At the end of the 20th century Sinterklaas gets as gifts Bringer " competition" from Santa Claus ( kerstman ). This was originally Sinterklaas, but over the years this has changed slowly. The festival also takes place no longer just for kids. Adults also give each other gifts.

Santa Claus

The American name of Father Christmas is Santa Claus, which was a modification of Sinterklaas by the Dutch immigrants who had adapted in Nieuw Amsterdam of the English language. However, Santa Claus does not bring on the 5th or 6th of December but only on Christmas morning gifts. Across America, Santa Claus came to Europe again, where it was first known in the UK. Even in the Netherlands Sinterklaas occurs nowadays in competition with yourself to as Santa Claus.

TV

The Dutch and Belgian television Sinterklaas has become a true icon. It created numerous Sinterklaas series and movies. Of these, some have also been published in German, such as Winky wants a horse of 2005.

A media event is the arrival of Sinterklaas with the steam ship. This is in the Netherlands in mid-November - broadcast live - on a Saturday about three weeks before the holiday. Since 2001, three days before the arrival to December 4 for children every evening Sinterklaas evening news, which reports on the daily experiences of Sinterklaas, but above all of the many Zwarte Pieten. Most in the preparations for the feast something goes wrong, what nevertheless at the last minute every year - is rescued - at 4 December.

Arrival

The arrival of Sinterklaas and his entourage is the official launch date today. The kids know the fact that they have to set up their shoes in the evening - and if they were " like ", you can find the next morning something put into it. In Amsterdam, already since 1934 the arrival of Sinterklaas is celebrated annually. The arrival takes place in November on the first Saturday after Martin's place, about three weeks before the holiday and is annually aired on Dutch television. Each year, may organize the main arrival to another city. In Belgium, Antwerp is the most important Ankunftort. Other cities with the possibility that a ship can create, produce their own arrivals.

Criticism

Against the Sinterklaas celebration, there were from Protestant circles at first violent criticism of the Catholic veneration of saints. By 1600, the celebration of Sinterklaas celebration was banned in Delft, which was joined by other communities. Also, the church reformer Martin Luther spoke out against this festival. Only in the 19th century gradually broke the resistance against the party.

Even in recent times, but there are still sporadic resistance. In 2004, the celebration of Sinterklaas festival was banned by the pastor in North Limburg Well, because he needed the church for church affairs. The celebration of Sinterklaas did not belong in his opinion this because am not written anywhere that this is also the Saint Nicholas of Myra. This triggered a wave of protest, even from within his church.