Christmas in the World. Netherlands (VIDEO)
By Diana Ungureanu/ Chisinau / Moldova.ORG/ -- Dutch people, like any other Europeans, wait impatiently for the winter holidays. Traditions and customs of Christmas in the Netherlands do not differ too much from those from other European countries, but with a slight difference, in the Netherlands Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) has a helper Peter the Black (Zwarte Piet).
Many sources attest to the fact that Santa Claus's name used in the United States of America originates from the Dutch Sinterklaas, however without any similarity between the two characters. Christmas traditions in the Netherlands assert that, Sinterklaas comes from sunny Spain and is based on the actual image of a Greek Bishop of Mira, now the area of Turkey unlike Santa Claus, who lives at the North Pole. In the Dutch version, this character is a very ecclesiastic one, wearing a robe and a red mitre; different of Santa Claus, who is famous for the round earth travel on reindeer-led sleigh, Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands by boat of steam. Each time,he is accompanied by his slave, Zwarte Piet, who is dressed in Spanish clothes and is black due to the fact that all the time goes down through the chimney to get the gifts.
In the Netherlands, children receive gifts on December 5, when Sinterklass fill the boots, prepared by the children with hay and carrots for his horse and with gifts and sweets.
Christmas traditions in the Netherlands make Christmas day to be a much quieter, which runs around the Christmas tree, fairy-tales, Christmas carols and table together with the family. Sometimes it is organized, during the afternoon, a special Church service, dedicated exclusively to the carols and tales. Children receive, on December 25, just a few symbolic gifts – sweets – because they have received already important ones, on December 5, from Sinterklaas.
The Dutch traditional Christmas dishes are based on sheep, duck, rabbit or pheasant meat, or ham or roasted or frosted, served with garnish of potatoes or vegetables and salads.
Christmas in Netherlands focuses largely on the peace of mind, harmony and warmth in the bosom of the family, what I want and you have on Christmas this year.
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