Over Groot Moeder

Truus Allart

Een van de tradities

In Nederland is
Sinter Klaas feest

One of the traditions

of the Netherlands
is Sinter Klaas Feast

Sinter Klaas

Where is the Netherlands?

The Netherlands

13,082 square miles

16,407,000 population
1,254 people per
square mile

Opa & Oma came from Rotterdam.

Compared to Utah

84,904 square miles

2,615,467 population
31 people per square mile

The Netherlands will fit into

Utah almost seven times!

Compared to Indiana

36,420 square miles

6,271,973 population
172 people per square mile

The Netherlands will fit

into Indiana almost 3 times.

Holland is Below Sea Level

Holland built dikes and

locks to keep sea water out

Gaining Land

Since 1949, when Oma

immigrated here, Holland
has gained one mile width
on the west side.

Holland is overpopulated,
but has open countryside.

Land of Windmills

Some..

pump water
grind grains
power saw mills

Windmills in the 15th and 16th centuries

made Holland an industrial power.

Some are still used today.

Announcements

Windmills were used to send messages of births,

marriages, and more, by positioning the blades
different ways.

Home of
Wooden Shoes

durable, affordable, warm footwear

Oma!?!

When the tops broke

off Boys would use
them as sailboats for
play.
Parents would repair
shoes with metal bands
around the top and
bottom to hold the shoe
together.

Very Family Oriented

Love to celebrate all kinds of Holidays.

They have Two Holidays for Easter,
Ascension, Spring Days, Royal Days, Sinter
Klaas, Christmas Days, and the New Year.

Sinter Klaas Eve

Families get together

sing songs
play games

Children are told about Sinter Klaas

Some are nervous about him coming

If you are GOOD you get goodies
But if you have NOT been good
You may get a Spanking, or a piece of
coal, or some salt

Some children deal with Swarte Piet

Most terrible of
all was to wind
up in the sack of
Swarte Piet and
taken to Spain

Sinter Klaas Eve

Children hope that

Sinter Klaas will come to
the door and bring them
Peper Nooten.
Peper Nooten is a small
hard spice cookie.
Swarte Piet throws the
peper nooten in the room
from the doorway.

Children

place one of their wooden shoes at the

fireplace.
sing Sinter Klaas Kapoentje
"Sinterklaas kapoentje,
gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
gooi wat in mijn laarsje,
dank u, Sinterklaasje."

If you have been very Good.

Traditionally you get a Chocolate Letter in the

form of your first names initial.
An Apple, Mandarin Orange, Candy
And maybe
other
surprises.

Sinter Klaas Eve

Shhhh. its time

to go to sleep.

Now
the story of

Sinter Klaas

Sinter Klaas Story

The Feast of Sinter

Klaas, or St. Nicholas,
is an annual event
In the Netherlands - the
eve of his feast day,
December 5th, is
celebrated nationwide
by young and old,
Christian and nonChristian

December
1

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Sinter Klaas Story

Sinter Klaas is a kind old

man
His feast day is observed
by exchanging gifts
He did actually exist
271 A.D. December 6,
342 A.D.

Sinter Klaas Story

Born of a wealthy family

Devout Christian
Distributed his wealth
among the poor
Became a priest
Then archbishop
Patron saint of sailors,
merchants, and children
Holland built 23 churches
dedicated to St. Nicholas
Rome decreed December
6th the official feast day

Sinter Klaas Story

Sinter Klaas lives in Spain

He records the behavior of
children in a big red book
Swarte Piet stocks up on
presents for next year
In November, Sinter Klaas
gets on his white horse,
Piet swings a huge sack
full of gifts over his
shoulder, and they board a
ship for the Netherlands.

Sinter Klaas Story

Around mid-November they arrive

in a harbor town
They are formally greeted by the
Mayor and citizens
Their parade through town is
watched live on television by the
whole country and marks the
beginning of the "Sinter Klaas
season".

Sinter Klaas Story

Sinter Klaas Story

At night the old bishop

and his helpmate ride
across Holland's
rooftops. Sinter Klaas
listens through the
chimneys to check on
the children's behavior.

Sinter Klaas Story

Piet jumps down the

chimney and exchanges
carrots or hay the
children have left for
the horse in their shoes
by the fireplace for a
small gift or some
candy.

Sinter Klaas Story

During the day, Sinter

Klaas and Piet are even
busier, visiting schools,
hospitals, and
department stores.

How do they manage to be everywhere at once?

"hulp-Sinterklazen" or
Sinterklaas helpers
since Sinter Klaas
cannot be in two
places at once, he gets
a little help from his
friends

Sinter Klaas Story

Dutch settlers brought St. Nicholas

over to New Amsterdam which is now
New York City- USA.

Dag

Tot volgent
jaar!

Till next
Year!