Dank je Sinterklaas

In honor of Sinterklaas' birthday today, I thought I'd share a few of the things that I've collected related to this strange holiday. In case you can't remember what all the fuss is about, I have mentioned it in a previous post. Here are some things seen around town to give you an idea:

Google today - because Sinterklaas puts presents in children's shoes. The first picture was this morning, empty... and the second is tonight's after Sinterklaas filled all the shoes with presents! When you click Google, it leads you to...

Sinterklaas kapoentje- the holiday song


Sinterklaas kapoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank je Sinterklaasje!


Sinterklaasje bonne bonne bonne,
Gooi wat in mijn lege lege tonne,
Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank je Sinterklaasje!

The only part I can translate, with the help of Google, goes:

Sinterklaas Kapoentje,

Throw something in my shoe,

Throw something in my boot,

Thank you, Sinterklaas!

In my last post about Sinterklaas, Ella commented asking if the people running around in blackface were related to the myth of Zwarte Piet, the helper who goes down the chimney to put presents in children's shoes, turning him black. I didn't realize then that this actually is the exact same in the Netherlands. 

There's (understandably) a lot of debate about "Black Pete" and whether or not it is racist. There's even talk of whether Zwarte Piet distorts Dutch children's image of black people. This doesn't stop him from turning up everywhere and handing out plenty of pepernoten, little gingerbread cookies. I've seen him everywhere, from the bus to on top of a zamboni at a hockey game.