Christmas Traditions Around the World : Dutch Christmas Traditions

[Teeuw1976]

Netherlands and Belgium have double holiday and have 2 old men who give presents. Saint Nicholas the bishop: December 5/ 6 and Santa Claus December 24-25-26.

[amirgirl]

christmas: family gathering with usually a big dinner and some Christian families go to church (this is less and less common) on christmas' eve. there a christmas tree, lots of lights in the trees outside and some families buy each other a present, but as most celebrate sinterklaas first, the presents are not really part of christmas. my family personally always watched christmas movies or the Harry Potter movies together in the evening

[amirgirl]

Sinterklaas: children then leave their shoe (as americans their stocking) at the fire place or (back) door and sing a (sinterklaas) song, usually leaving a carrot or water for sinterklaas' horse. the next morning they'll find candy or a small gift in return. on 5th of december "sinterklaas' eve - the evening before sinterklaas' birthday so the tradition says - there is a big family gathering and Sinterklaas and his "zwarte pieten" (his helpers) leave sacks of gifts for everyone

[amirgirl]

sweetheart "sinterklaas" and christmas are two completely different events that Americans have mixed together. Christmas is a religious holiday celebrating the birth of christ and has been mixed with the traditions of the mid winter holiday (as in most cultures). sinterklaas however was a saint that took care of children. he "arrives" per boot from spain at the end of november (usually around thanksgiving for the US).

[germanicelt]

The Dutch celebrate Christmas on the 24th of Decemeber, like most of mainland Europe. What she is talking about is St. Nicholas which is a different occasion. This is because she is a dumb American and thinks Christmas is about Santa Claus.

[ThePopups]

yeah totaly agree with you.. another usa one who thinks this.. they realy need to learn history

[Ruudos]

We celebrate Christmas on the 24th (Christmas Eve), 25th (1st Christmas Day) and 26th (2nd Christmas) of December.