CelebratingTraditions

A real Dutch tradition is the feast of "Sinterklaas" or "Sint Nikolaas". He was a bishop who lived some centuries ago, in Asia minor. Sinterklaas is a special children’s celebration although a lot of grown-ups also enjoy it very much. Legend has it that he would put a gold coin in the shoe of a deserving poor child on the eve of his birthday. Which appears to be the reason for putting a shoe by the fireplace. Even in the week before they may put a letter or a drawing for Sinterklaas or some carrots for his horse. They sing some Sinterklaas songs and the next morning they may find some candy in their shoe. The feast is primarily celebrated on the evening of December 5. That night "Sinterklaas" on his white horse and his helper "Zwarte Piet," go over the rooftops to the houses to bring gifts for the children who have been good. The American tradition of Santa Claus is a bit similar. Even the name is related, sometimes even called Saint Nick.
There are some traditional things to eat and drink with Sinterklaas. We have chocolate initials, pepernoten (very small cookies,) thrown into the area by Zwarte Piet. Figures of Speculaas, know here as “windmill cookies” also a kind of chewy cookie, “Taai-taai” which is bigger and made with cinnamon and clove. For adults a nice drink is “Bishops wine”. Red wine with sugar, cinnamon and clove, usually it is drunk hot, nice on a cold winter’s eve.