Sinterklaasavond

Tonight we celebrate Sinterklaasavond (St. Nicholas' evening), a holiday tradition in the Netherlands and Belgium, celebrated every year on Saint Nicholas' eve December 5 or, in some parts of Belgium, the morning of December 6. The feast celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children.

In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' eve, not Christmas eve, is the occasion for gift-giving. The evening of December 5 is called pakjesavond ("evening of packages"). Traditionally, presents are ingeniously wrapped, and are therefore called surprises. Also, each present is accompanied by a poem from Saint Nicholas.

Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and the 5th of December, before going to bed, children put their shoes (or "klompen"- wooden shoes) next to the chimney of the coal fired stove or fireplace, with a carrot or some hay in it "for Sinterklaas's horse", sing a 'Sinterklaas' song, and will find some candy in their shoes the next day, thrown down the chimney by Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas himself. However, with the advent of central heating children put their shoes near the boiler or even just next to the front door and Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas will find them.

Traditionally Saint Nicholas brings his gifts at night. Like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas knows if you've been naughty or nice, and even knows if you're home or out of town. In The Netherlands adults started to give each other presents on the evening of the 5th; then older children were included and today in that country even the youngest take part in Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond: children at home sing 'Sinterklaas' songs and suddenly Swarte Piet will knock on the door three times very loudly, and when they go to the door a gunny sack full of presents is found on the doorstep.