St Nicolaas. December 5th.

[Lizzie48]

This is a start! As you all know the Dutch celebrate St. Nicolaas on December 5th, many think it is part of Christmas but it isn't. That comes later!

Widely celebrated in Europe, St. Nicholas' feast day, December 6th, kept alive the stories of his goodness and generosity. In Germany and Poland, boys dressed as bishops begged alms for the poor—and sometimes for themselves! In the Netherlands and Belgium, St. Nicholas arrived on a steamship from Spain to ride a white horse on his gift-giving rounds. December 6th is still the main day for gift giving and merrymaking in much of Europe. For example, in the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint's horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts.

[Nanto2girls]

Lizzie, thank you for that explanation. I knew a bit of it,but you have made things clearer.

[Gemini]

Lizzie, I love reading about the traditions of different countries and cultures.

[WeeGranny]

We were able to arrange a visit from the Sint on the 5th December. DC were beside themselves when he knocked at the door with his big red book and his helpers! They left presents in the hall and lots of sweets and the Sint had a glass of wine! It was really magical!

[Lizzie48]

WG, the children would love that, I love to see their faces when they see him!

[Daisy]

Lizzie and WeeGranny, what charming customs, and such fun for the children. It must feel like a magical fairyland to the little ones. And no-one gets frightened by ghouls and ghosts, fireworks or other scary things.

WeeGranny, if the Sint has a glass of wine at each house he must end up very merry!

[Lizzie48]

Daisy, what do you think of the Pete's climbing over the roof tops after a wine!!!!

[Daisy]

Lizzie, I'd be holding my breath and looking for a large safety net to catch them.

[Plantaholic]

What an interesting custom

[Lizzie48]

For the 3 weeks to December 5th small children place their shoes in the hall and hope for a small present as St. N and his Piets often pay a visit during the night!

We are playing a dice game, we each buy and wrap 3 or 4 presents, we then throw a dice and as DIL said, we could win all or nothing.

[Gemini]

Have you tried the dice game before Lizzie?

[Lizzie48]

No Gem, this is the first time, GC always made surprises for school but that was only at the junior school.

[Daisy]

Lizzie, does the Sint have reindeer, if not who are the carrots for?

[WeeGranny]

The carrots are for his white horse Daisy! He rides around Holland when he gets off the boat from Spain.

The shoes were put out every night in our house and the DC knew that they'd only get something nice if they had been good. Well DS was being a little S** and had been warned there'd be nothing nice in his shoe, or even worse there'd be a bunch of twigs ( to be smacked with). He wasn't bothered and continued his naughtiness, his face the next morning was a sight to behold. DD had a lovely treat and he had nothing! His behaviour remarkably improved for the rest of the time and his name wasn't on the naughty list in the Sint's Red Book!

[Daisy]

WeeGranny, was it hard to withhold the treats when DS carried on being naughty? I think I would have found it quite hard to follow through by withholding the treats, even though I'm sure it was the right thing to do. It certainly worked for your DS. x