Sint Maarten and the Arrival of Sinterklaas

Two Dutch holidays and the accompanying festive spirit have been a welcome distraction from the events of this week. 

On Friday, we celebrated Sint Maarten with friends in Amstelveen. This was our first year participating in this sweet evening with Jude. Children make lanterns, attach light sticks and go door to door singing Sint Maarten songs in exchange for sweets. Jude had made a lantern at school and practiced the song. Here he is walking the halls of ISA at the end of the day singing the one song we know well. 

                                  

Since our time here, it seems that God smiles upon the Dutch. For almost every major holiday and time when you would want to have good weather, there is good weather. Never mind that it was grey and rainy all week, come Friday, the sun was shining in time for the children to have their night. 

We joined my two Sarah friends and their children. First for a picnic tea/playdate and then for walking around their neighborhood.

Jude would march up to the doors, singing the song. The owners wait 'til the song is done and then present the treats, a bit different from Halloween where the candy is immediately available. Jude would turn to me and ask, "where is my treat?" The usual Halloween-type candy was given out as were mandarins, marshmallows and licorice (a Dutch staple that I can't get into).

Back at home, there were still some children going around our neighborhood and Jude was equally excited for them to come to the house and sing to us.

After the kid-centered evening, I took some me time and went into the city to hear Zadie Smith read from her new book, Swing Time. She is currently living in NYC and said how glad she was to be away from there and in Amsterdam. Right now, me too.

Yesterday, Sinterklaas arrived in Amstelveen and someone was a wee bit excited :) It snuck up on me this year and I am mentally preparing for the next 3 weeks of Sint mania. Our friends came up from Delft to see some of the Northern European soccer tournament at Pete's school and then join us for the Amstelveen parade. Every year I wait to see if things will be different with the zwarte piets in light of the media attention they receive, but black face prevailed again this year in Amstelveen.

Jumping on the sofa wearing boots is not generally allowed around here...

Power cord, not tail :)

The piets were literally throwing kruidnoten and candies at Maeve in her stroller!

He's here! Riding on his horse, Amerigo, accompanied by the Swiss Guard (??)

Baby smiles to brighten any dark day