Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Thursday 14 November 2019
Sinterklaas is on his way to Aruba

ORANJESTAD — It’s the time consisting of St. Nicholas's appeared in print as the
of the year again all the Eve and St. Nicholas's Day, nameless servant of Saint
children of Aruba haven is observed by exchanging Nicholas in Sint-Nikolaas
been waiting for. The arrival gifts and chocolate letters en zijn knecht ("St. Nicholas
of Sinterklaas, November (of the recipient's initial). It and His Servant/Appren-
17th. The holy man com- is also customary to make tice"), published in 1850 by
ing all the way from Spain good-natured fun of your Amsterdam schoolteacher
bringing gifts for all the loved ones, by way of hu- Jan Schenkman; however,
good children of Aruba. It morous poetry written by the tradition appears to
surely is an exciting time for the giver, and offering the date back at least as far as
the kids. infamous "surprise," which the early 19th Century.[4]
is a (homemade) gag gift Zwarte Piet's colourful dress
Based on St. Nicolas, the that hides another present is based on 16th-century
patron saint of children, Sin- inside. In Holland, it is more noble attire, with a ruff (lace
terklaas (the name is a con- common to give pres- collar) and a feathered
traction of Sint Nikolaas) is a ents on Sinterklaas than at cap. He is typically depict-
legendary Christmas figure Christmas, which remains ed carrying a bag which
celebrated in the Nether- a day to spend with fam- contains candy for the chil-
lands. Although similar to ily and attend church. The dren. The Zwarte Pieten toss
Santa Claus in that he is an feast is celebrated annu- their candy around, a tradi-
older man with a full, white ally with the giving of gifts tion supposedly originating
beard who wears red, Sin-
terklaas is a more serious
figure, donning a bishop's
headdress and carrying
a long, curled shepherd's
staff.
The Dutch celebrate the
Feast of Sinterklaas honor-
ing the life of St. Nicholas,
and although St. Nicholas
is always shown wearing his
bishop's attire, the Dutch
tend to see him as a kindly
old man, rather than as a
Catholic saint. The result is shoes for his horse, hoping ther way, both Sinterklaas
that Sinterklaas is celebrat- on St. Nicholas' Eve (5 De- in the story of Saint Nicho- St. Nicholas will exchange and Santa Claus stand for
ed by Dutch people of all cember) in the Netherlands las saving three young girls them for presents if they the generosity of spirit and
ages and beliefs, without and on the morning of 6 from prostitution by tossing were good. kindness to children.
any real religious connota- December, Saint Nicholas golden coins through their
tions. Day, in Belgium, Luxem- window at night to pay Sinterklaas Vs. Santa Sinterklaas will be arriving in
bourg and northern France their dowries. It is said that Sinterklaas Aruba on Sunday Novem-
The Feast of Sinterklaas (French Flanders, Lorraine was the precursor of Santa ber 17th 2019 at the Harbor
This real-life Santa Claus and Artois). The tradition is The Foods of Sinterklaas Claus. Historians believe Arena at 10 AM. He will con-
was born to wealthy par- also celebrated in territories At the Feast of Sinterk- that Dutch and German tinue in a caravan going
ents in the third century of the former Dutch Empire, laas, the Dutch indulge settlers took the tradition down the L.G. Smith Boule-
in Patara (the area was including Aruba, Bonaire, in a variety of sweets in- with them to America. vard till the Plaza Libertador
Greek at the time, but is Curaçao and Suriname. cluding cookies, candies, There, his Catholic garb was Betico Croes where a big
now part of Turkey). He and bread. Traditional gradually transformed into welcome party awaits.
spent his life giving away his Zwarte Piet recipes are speculaas the jolly non-sectarian red There will be lots of sing-
money to the poor and do- Sinterklaas is assisted by (spiced cookies), kruidno- suit with the white fur trim ing, dancing, storytelling,
ing good deeds. He died many mischievous help- ten (mini spiced cookies, we are all so familiar with. a show presented by Sin-
on December 6th, and ers with black faces and also called ginger nuts), Additionally, his lithe frame terklaas’ helpers and much
it is this date that is com- colourful Moorish dresses. pepernoten(small aniseed gave way to a well-pad- much more. Come and
memorated—the Feast of These companions are flavored honey cookies), ded potbelly, and his trusty enjoy a family day and let
Sinterklaas is held on Dec. called Zwarte Piet ("Black taai-taai (aniseed and white steed was traded in your children meet Sinterk-
5th and 6th. The holiday, Pete"). Zwarte Piet first honey flavored figurines), for a troupe of reindeer. Ei- laas and his Black Piets. q
almond filled pastries,
chocolate letters, and du-
ivekater (a festive sweet
bread). Mulled wine, called
bischopswijn, is also en-
joyed.

Waving a Carrot
Dutch children believe that
Sinterklaas writes down
whether they've been
naughty or nice in his red
book. Sinterklaas rides a
white horse, and the chil-
dren put carrots in their