(no subject)

[can_be_more]

Explain this holiday to me now, please. You know the one. The one with snow and trees and overweight men in bad suits with worse facial hair. I'm new! I don't know these things!

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*blinks* Okay. Cam has a thing about Sinterklaas. Ask him about it.

*points to Cam-Wolf*

[chasingangela]

*Joins Parker in standing by Cam inquisitively, as she would also like to know about Sinterklaas.*

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

ZOMG. It's my player who's on her soapbox.

Sinterklaas is a tradition based on a catholic saint who rescued kids from being chopped up by a butcher and sold as meat. But it's a kids holiday really that's got a life on his own.

In december, he comes from Spain to the low lands by steamboat. Then, on the night of 5 to december 6 he visits every child who has been good. He's got a big book with all the children's names in it and whether they were good that year or not. He also has heaps of servants who are all black with coal, because of course they go through the chimney to deliver the presents. Oh and he also has a horse that can walk on the roofs.

Basically, kids write him a letter (and you leave your shoe and sugar or a carrot for his horse at the chimney) and give him a wishlist and he brings toys, marzipan, chocolate and mandarins as presents.

So err yes, Santa Calus is a rip off of him, but he's not Sinterklaas. Because Sinterklaas is way cool and has his own day and christmas is when you get presents from your family. Sinterklaas is all about the kids and waking up to find treasures in front of the chimney.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Oh and the candy you get is all in Sinterklaas shape. And if you're bad, the highest of his servants will hit you with a rod and stick you in a bag! And you sing songs for the Sint and he loves getting drawings. And his clothes are way cooler than Santa Claus and he has a real beard!

[chasingangela]

*follows along, kind of*

Wait, is your player from the place where Sinterklaaas comes with the six to eight black men who beat children if they're bad? Or did avid Sedaris entirely make up that part?

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Sorta, but he has way more men than that. And I have yet to see him call one child naughty and bad. But yeah, there's one of the songs that says;

"Who's good gets sweets
who's bad, get the rod"

As far as I know, it's mostly celebrated in Belgium and the Netherlands.