Sinterklaas

Yesterday we celebrated the tradition of Sinterklaas. Since my maiden name (DeLeeuw) is Dutch, we have tried to incorporate some of their traditions to celebrate our heritage. Sinterklaas or Saint Nicolas, is a traditional holiday figure in the Netherlands. Sinterklaas has a long white beard, wears a red bishop's dress and red bishop's hat, and holds a long gold coloured staff with a fancy curled top. Sinterklaas carries a big book with all the children's names in it, which states whether they have been good or naughty in the past year. "Saint-Nicolas" traditionally rides a white horse. In the Netherlands this horse is often know as Amerigo. Before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it for Sinterklaas's horse, and will find some candy or a small present in their shoes the next day. Children are also told that if they are really really bad they would be put in the gunny sack in which Black Pete (Sinterklaas's helper) carries the presents, and be taken back to Spain, where Sinterklaas is said to spend the rest of the year.

We celebrated this holiday by making some delicious wassil (so so yummy!!!), ate shortbread cookies, watched some movies and played many games with our friends & cousins, the Sorensens and Brian White. It was so much fun. The wassil was the perfect drink on such a cold day!! We then decorated our christmas tree and the rest of the apartment. My favorite decoration by far are all of the lights! They make everything seem so magical! We set our shoes by the door and went to sleep. When we woke this morning we had presents! Brent got some yummy candy and a speaker-case for his mp3 player, and I got the new Narnia movie on Blu-Ray. I am so excited to watch it tonight!!!