Every year we celebrate the Sinterklaas festival, with shoes, sweets and surprises. But did you know that this festival has been around for over 700 years? And that all those traditions, from the arrival to the surprises, have a long history?
The origins of Saint Nicholas date back to the fourth century, when the historic Bishop Nicholas of Myra was known for his generosity toward children. In the thirteenth century, people in the Netherlands started celebrating his feast in churches. Only from the fifteenth century onwards did the celebration move to the living room of ordinary people, where children put their shoes on.
Over the centuries, more and more modern elements were added, such as the rural arrival and making surprises, so that the Sinterklaas celebration is now a combination of age-old tradition and contemporary conviviality.
The arrival of Sinterklaas as we know it today has its roots in the Middle Ages. Then a ‘child bishop’ was chosen for December 6, often a poor child who received food, gifts and shoes. This was an important social moment, focusing on the goodness of Saint Nicholas.
In the nineteenth century, teacher Jan Schenkman presented his picture book Saint Nicholas and his Servant the tradition with a modern twist: the steamboat from Spain and the servant, later known as Zwarte Piet, were introduced. The first official parade was in Venray in 1888, and since 1934 a large-scale parade has been held annually in Amsterdam, which has also been shown on television since 1952. This gave rise to a national tradition that captivates children throughout the country.
Putting on shoes is one of the oldest Dutch Sinterklaas traditions. Archive documents show that from 1427 onwards, shoes were placed in the Nicolaï Church in Utrecht on December 5, Christmas Eve. Rich Utrecht residents donated money and the proceeds were distributed among the poor on December 6, the official anniversary of Saint Nicholas’s death.
Later this habit moved to the living room, as evidenced by archive documents and as can be seen in paintings by Jan Steen from the seventeenth century. Children place their shoe near the fireplace or, if there is no chimney, near a heater or window, often with a carrot, hay or sugar cubes for Sinterklaas’ horse. The next morning they find something tasty or a small gift in their shoe.
The sweets we get from Sinterklaas all have their own story. Chocolate coins recall the legend of Saint Nicholas who helped three poor sisters by throwing bags of gold through their window so they could get married.
Gingerbread nuts and gingerbread owe their existence to expensive spices from the Middle Ages and were previously distributed during holidays, reports the Meertens Institute.
The tradition of writing Sinterklaas poems originated as a way to give gifts with a playful or satirical edge. The oldest known poem dates from 1647, but the use became popular mainly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Initially, the poems served as an educational tool: children were told the truth about their behavior in a fun way. Later the tradition expanded to adults and writing a poem became a means of combining humor and personal attention.
The tradition of surprises has also existed for centuries, but only took the form we know today in the twentieth century. In the Middle Ages, gifts were given to the poor in a shoe or clog, or sometimes hidden in fruit or cake, as shown in the painting The Saint Nicholas feast by Jan Steen (1665-1668).
Around the turn of the century, papier-mâché works of art became popular, with which people could playfully tease each other. In the 1950s, making surprises grew into a permanent part of family play, often combined with a poem that ‘holds a mirror up to the recipient’ in a light-hearted way, according to former director of the Netherlands Center for Popular Culture Ineke Strouken.
And then there is the currently controversial tradition of Sinterklaas’ best friend and great helper: Zwarte Piet. He scatters gingerbread nuts, brings presents through chimneys and accompanies Sinterklaas on his travels. Its origins are the subject of discussion and stories.
Over the course of the 19th century, Zwarte Piet evolved from a servant of Saint Nicholas to a Zwarte Piet. He is the successor of a demon or devil, such as the Krampus figure from the Alps. According to some, Zwarte Piet can even be traced back to the Germanic god Wodan. Black Pete as we know it today may have been modeled after a Moorish nobleman. The colorful clothing, white collar, feather on the hat and gold in the equipment are reflected in Zwarte Piet’s traditional suit.
Over time, Zwarte Piet changed from an ogre and servant into a playful, mischievous children’s friend. Initially there was only one Pete, and the singular is still used in many songs. In the mid-twentieth century, the disciplinary rod and the taking of naughty children disappeared from stories, and several Petes often emerged.
Nowadays, the traditional black appearance is increasingly being replaced by Black Petes, after the insistence of groups that objected to the appearance of Black Pete.
All these traditions, from the arrival and shoe-making to sweets, poems, surprises and Zwarte Piet, show how rich and versatile the Sinterklaas celebration has been throughout the centuries. Despite changes and developments, it has always remained the same to the core: a children’s party for young and old!
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