Sint and Piet

The night of December 5^th was Sinterklaas night. Dutch people all around the country got together so children could open their presents from “Sinterklaas” and adults could share with each other well-thought out gifts. I say “well-thought out” because the Dutch put a lot of work into the homemade packaging and the tongue-in-cheek poems that accompany the gifts. An example of the packaging might be a person who likes desserts receiving a gift that is in a box that looks like a cak.  Gearoid and I weren’t actively avoiding this night or the tradition that surrounds Sinterklaas (also referred to as Sint)- I mean we went to see his arrival almost a month ago- but we didn’t make plans to celebrate this Dutch holiday. Just as Thanksgiving was an ordinary Thursday to Dutch people, Sinterklaas avond (night) was an ordinary Monday night to us.

Except, the Dutch people in our lives didn’t want it to be an ordinary night and we ended up inadvertently part of the celebration. Since Sinterklaas arrived weeks ago, we’ve noticed the decorations, the abundance of Zwarte Piet (Sint’s helpers) children’s television shows, and the delicious variety of speculaas sold at the grocery store. However, the immediate days before Sinterklaas avond became filled with events, news stories on how busy stores were, and an abundance of kruidenoten (ginger cookies). We couldn’t help being sucked into active participation of this holiday.

Last Wednesday, I attended a children’s event with a friend who wanted some assistance with her 3 children. I was told Sinterklaas would be there. I assumed it would be like when you visit Santa in the mall and you sit on his lap and express what you want for Christmas and then head off on your merry way. I was completely wrong. We went to the local garden center (the same one that hosted Ladies’ night) and were herded by some Zwarte Piets into a barn/chapel that was constructed especially for the event. (Although I’m still not an advocate of black face I am also not actively voicing my opposition to it. I do have to say though,  that up close the shocking blue eyes in black face and under synthetic jheri-curls were pretty startling.) After being herded in, the doors were closed and friendlily (?) blocked by the garden center employees. The lights went off and then back on in an assortment of colors while the Zwarte Piets danced to hip-hop themed Sinterklaas music. I was now surrounded by the various cries of fear and excitement of children as the Zwarte Piets entertained us Soul Train style. After that performance, we were treated to a puppet show (which I’m happy to say I understood most of) while the Zwarte Piets threw tiny cookies at the children. After an eternity (really it was only 45 minutes) and much anticipation, Sinterklaas made an appearance of 5 minutes. We were then herded out of the barn and funneled through the entire store (which lacked the magical enchantment it held during Ladies’ night. Possibly, because it was daylight and I wasn’t drinking mulled wine although I desperately needed it after what I had just been through) towards the far off exits. I was only with my friend, her children, and 100 more children for about 3 hours but vowed to live a childless life afterwards on the phone to a gleeful Gearoid (unfortunately for him this only lasted the afternoon as the next day I got excited about a friend’s daughter’s pregnancy).

Where all the Sinterklaas "fun" took place on that bright and sunny Wednesday afternoon

Zwarte Piets

Sinterklaas himself

The next day, Gearoid was subjected to his own torture. His football practice was held early so there could be a Sinterklaas presentation at the football club afterwards. Apparently the presentation of an hour and half (to Gearoid it felt like 6 hours), included dancing Zwarte Piets who shushed any conversation not involving Sinterklaas and many long speechs by Sinterklaas to several of the best players. Unfortunately, Gearoid sat too far from the exit and was prevented from sneaking out. He came home after eleven PM exhausted and bored. His torture continued as his Dutch instructor assigned homework that involved writing a rhyming poem in Dutch about a classmate. Gearoid was given information about a Polish researcher who in his spare time enjoyed reading, hiking, climbing, and collecting knives (?!). We spent a good chunk of Sunday trying to find Dutch rhyming words and crafting them into a coherent poem that included Sinterklaas and this Polish guy’s hobbies. We were proud of our efforts but apparently they weren’t understood and the chocolate P Gearoid gave as a gift (P for Poland!) was not fully appreciated.

On the day of Sinterklaas avond, my landlady invited me over for tea and a cultural explanation. She filled in some of the gaps that existed between what other people had told me about this cultural event. My landlady gave me a more thorough explanation about how the poems that accompany the gift are usually nice but with a little bit of truth/meanness in them. My landlord gave the example of how he might write me a poem about how Sint and Piet may suggest that I should clean my windows. A gift of a squeegee and window cleaner might accompany the poem. (I took this as an obvious hint that I should clean my windows in the near future). My landlady then asked if I had seen Sint on the roof yet. I told her no and he probably wouldn’t come (I was casually referring to how we’re not celebrating this Dutch event and instead would celebrate the actual Christmas) and was informed by her that today would be last night to see him because the next day Sinterklaas was returning to Spain. Oh, well. Maybe next year.

But “he” did come and he scared the hell out of me. I knew my landlady was hosting a Sinterklaas avond for some friends of hers (I got the lowdown during tea) and I heard the festivities happening down below. I was minding my own business, doing some Dutch on the computer when I heard something being thrown and a loud knock on my door. I screamed, jumped, and despite the viewings of many scary movies went outside to investigate what had scared me. On my front stoop were several wrapped packages, gold chocolate coins, and a sprinkling of pepernoten (the same spiced cookies the Zwarte Piets throw at children).

Our Sinterklaas avond loot- several poems (I even tried to write one), many chocolate letters, kruidenoten, a magnetic football man (from Gearoid's fellow student), and some adorable owl ornaments. For not celebrating, we did pretty well. 

When Gearoid came home, I showed him the evidence of Sinterklaas and he shared with me how Sinterklaas (i.e. his fellow student) had treated him well too. Despite, our lack of effort we were treated very nicely on Sinterklaas avond by Sint and Piet (a.k.a. generous and friendly Dutch people).

A poem from Sint and Piet (a.k.a. our landlords) translated by Natasha and Google Translate. It is better (and it rhymes) in Dutch but still amusing in either language.

Sint and Pete ride on the roof of the Groenestraat.
And Sint sits majestically on his horse
Peter peeks through the bedroom window and sees
Gearoid sleep again while Natasha grieves
In the room he sees her again alone with the TV
And that brings him the next idea
A piece of integration in beautiful paper
Cultural Experiences are also fun
Harvest Fruit Parade in Tiel, or ladies night in Malden
All are distractions that please Natasha 
So today a traditional experience
Knocking on the door and packages on the sidewalk
And a sermon that's how Sint does.
Sint points an admonishing finger at you
Gearoid, think more of your dear woman
 A beautiful young athletic guy
and Sint has heard you're also very intelligent!
Must understand that such a young woman would like more
Than to look at your sleeping back and buttocks
Go play a game at night and decorate your home
Put together the tree and sit together in front of the tube
Lots of time together- Sint thinks is a good idea,
And so he brought for you a letter Gearoid
Then next year he wants to see a difference
Then you will get a "man" score of a 10!