The Durneys Go Dutch: The Season of Sinterklaas

After Sinterklaas' arrival, we had 2 1/2 weeks of excitement, celebrating the season of Sint. Jude is learning more about Sinterklaas in school now so he was more into it than he's ever been. He put his shoe out in the fireplace a lot in that time. He also learned some songs and would sing them loudly by the fireplace, to get the Piet's attention so that they would come. Unfortunately, the daily anticipation meant routine ±5:30am wake-ups for the past nearly 3 weeks and our sweet boy would turn into a real terror at the end of his long days. So sadly, the Piets only visited our house a few times (they are always watching like Santa!). Here there are getting ready for a visit.

Carrots for Amerigo

The Piets left sugar candies a few times, then some pepernoten and towards the end, their chocolate letters. Nothing like getting candy in your dirty shoe!

Maeve examining her slipper thinking "is that it?!"

Pretty pleased to be eating chocolate at 6:30am

Pretty POed when I took it away before she ate the whole thing!

Last weekend, there was a celebration of the "Nieuw Sint," a black Sint whose aim is to call attention to the lack of diversity around this holiday, and even worse, the overt racism with the "Zwarte" (black) Piets. I am ashamed to admit that I had the thought that if Jude saw a black Sint, that the jig would be up and he'd stop believing. But clearly if Sinterklaas has enough magic to visit every house in the Netherlands in one night, than he most certainly can change color to represent all of the children in this country. Jude didn't give my explanation a second thought and fell instantly in love with the gregarious Sint.

We watched him arrive by boat on the Prinsengracht and then followed his parade through Leidseplein. Jude wanted to be right up with him so I was working hard to make sure he wouldn't get kicked by the horse! I was so glad that Jude was wearing his bright blue Piet hat as it helped me keep track of him the rest of the afternoon!

Waiting for Sint

Handing out roses to passersby

Sint dismounted Amerigo at the popular music venue, Paradiso, where a children's dance party was set up. There was a band that played for a while, followed by a juggler and then Sint and his band took to the stage to sing and dance. Jude was up front and center the entire time! Luckily a few friends had come so I had some company :) At one point, I looked up from talking to a friend and there was Jude, being held by Sint on the stage! Just smiling from ear to ear.

We were having a great time, but the music was loud so Jude needed a break and wanted to wait for the facepainting. Afterwards, we did some shopping and shared an oliebollen. Lekker dag!

Tram ride home from my mommy and Jude day in the city

The conclusion of this very long, very exciting season is on Wednesday the 5th, Sinterklaas' birthday. In the evening of this day, Sinterklaas delivers presents to homes across the Netherlands, giving it the name pakjesavond (packages evening). So this is like the American commercial Christmas. One big difference is that December 5th is not a national holiday so children are in school. Imagine if we had to go to school, knowing that that evening Sinterklaas would be coming! Needless to say, the day is all about Sinterklaas and presents and not so much about learning. Sinterklaas visits schools (all of them??) on that day, ISA included. They ask that parents of nursery children attend the arrival as it can be overwhelming for the little ones. Indeed, Maeve didn't want to stay for it, telling me she was scared. So we caught a glimpse of him on Amerigo and then waited in the lobby. She was fine when he came and visited her area in the building, probably because the Piets were giving out lots of pepernoten!

We got to say hi to Jude waiting with his class.

Is that awe or is that fear??

Sinterklaas in the Pre-K area. He told the children how proud he was that they had all earned their Pieten Diploma in gym class after completing such tasks as climbing over rooftops, swinging from roof to roof and driving the steamboat.

We had our first pakjesavond at home. After dinner, the doorbell rang. Jude went to see who it was and no one was there! But there was a Sint bag full of presents! And at the same time, the drawing he had made for Sint and left in his shoe had disappeared! How did that happen?! Oh the wonder!