By now all of my kids have received their packages, or there's a notice in their mailbox to go pick up a box at the post office....Sinterklaas has sent a lot of goodies this year! Although a couple of years did get missed, this has been a tradition that started when the kids were young - a tradition of little gifts and chocolate letters and special baked goods on December 5. Ok - missed several years in between, but I did at least try to bake special Dutch recipes around December 5.
Anyhow, it started in real earnest again when David was in college. Redeemer College had a program whereby parents could send care packages during exam time. We decided that Saint Nick needed to get into the action instead!
Dutch tradition has Saint Nicolas coming around to homes to give presents and pepernoten and marzipein and other goodies on December 5 - often leaving gifts in shoes during the night. It's a very exciting time for all, as there is not usually any gift-giving on the 25th.
I think it's fun, too, and upon reading up on the particular customs, I found that disguising gifts and making up rhymes is part of the fun, too! We have done well in disguising gifts in the past...!
Today, I was on Skype as the Dartmouth crew opened their box - it was fun to watch Maria's and Nicole's excitement as they took everything out. Jingle-bells for the tree, hagelslag, chocolate letters and taai-taai to eat!
And to bring tradition around again - David did mention the other day that they were wondering if Sinterklaas was going to remember them this year...
Enjoy! Hope your season is a little brighter because of this special tradition!
1 comment:
Did you know that now you can buy "coal" to leave in the shoes as well?
Little lump shaped chocolate hazelnut candies covered in black foil.....
Fun, but they are too sweet for me.
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