Advent Calendar: Day Five

Not only is today the 5th day of the Advent Calendar but the 5th December is also the Eve of St. Nicholas. Today in Belgium and The Netherlands, families celebrate Sinterklaas when the red-robed man delivers gifts to all those who have been good for the past year. The origin of this tradition appears to be Nicholas, bishop from Myra in Turkey which is why he wears a red clerical cope and miter. It was believed that the bishop saved the town from starvation and that he was famous for leaving people secret gifts and money in their shoes. Sinterklaas appears to have moved to Spain where the Dutch say he now resides. Nobody knows why he moved and since he is now around 1800 years old he probably does not remember anyway.Sint as he is often called, rides a dapple grey horse, named Amerigo and he writes everything down in a big red book that he carries around with him. Sinterklaas has always been the patron saint of Amsterdam, of sailors and of children. In late November, a few weeks before his actual birthday, Sint sails in from Spain by boat. His arrival is a festive occasion that children eagerly anticipate. Then he processes through the streets while his Pieten (helpers)shower the waiting children with candies and tiny brown cookies, called pepernoten.From his arrival until his birthday on 6th December, children leave their shoes by the fireplace at night filled  with hay and carrots for Sinterklaas’ horse. If the child has been good they will find chocolate or little presents the next morning. If however, the child has been naughty they will receive a note saying that if he or she doesn’t clean up their act there will be no presents on 5th December and even worse Sinterklaas may take the child with him back to Spain in his sack. Many young dutch children live in fear of being taken away!Finally on the evening of 5th December, there is banging on the front door or on the windows but when the children open the door, there is nobody there. Instead they find a heap of presents in canvas sacks.