Sinterklaas
Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for a popular figure based on the historical Nikolaus von Myra . He is the main character of a children's festival that is celebrated on December 5th in the Netherlands, on December 6th in Belgium and in many former Dutch colonies . He wears his bishop's clothes , a red smoke coat and a crosier . His companion is traditionally the Zwarte Piet .
history
Many traditions go back to St. Nicholas of Myra, whose death day is December 6th. Originally, Sint-Nicolaas was only celebrated in the east. In the 13th century it was decided that his name day should also be an important festival in the West. The tradition of the Sinterklaas festival has existed in the Netherlands since the 15th century. Initially, this custom took place in the church, as an offering to the poor. The archives show that since 1427 shoes have been placed in the Sint-Nicolaas Church in Utrecht on December 5th, the pakjesavond ("package evening "). Rich Utrecht people put coins in their shoes so that the poor could receive these offerings the next day, the official day of the death of St. Nicholas. In other cities a lot was done for the poor that day. Descriptions are known from the 16th century according to which children set up their shoes at home.
After the Dutch uprising against Philip II of Spain , church districts tried to abolish the Sinterklaas festival because it contained too many pagan and Catholic elements. However, the festival had become so popular even with the predominantly Protestant population that this endeavor had little success.
In the 17th century, painter Jan Steen captured the Sinterklaas evening in two pictures. This also makes it easy to see what was put into the children's shoes: cakes , sweets and toys .
Connection with Spain
According to the Dutch tradition, Sinterklaas travels from Spain every year . Saint Nicholas was born in Patara , which is now in Turkey . In 280 this belonged to the former Byzantine Empire . He later became Bishop of Myra . Among other things, he took part in the First Council of Nicaea . He died on December 6, 342 . After the Muslims conquered this area, the remains of the saint were brought to Bari , the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies , where Charles V later became king. His son Philip II inherited the Netherlands, Spain and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The tradition that Sinterklaas comes from Spain comes from this time. Saint Nicholas is also the patron saint of seafaring.
Traditions
Arrivals
According to tradition, Sinterklaas travels every year by steamboat , mostly Pakjesboot 12 , from Spain . The arrival of Sinterklaas with his entourage in the Netherlands is now the official start date of the Sinterklaas period. The arrival of Sinterklaas has been celebrated in Amsterdam every year since 1934. The arrival takes place in November on the first Saturday after St. Martin's Day, about three weeks before the holiday and is broadcast annually on Dutch television. Each year a different city is allowed to organize the main arrival. In Belgium, Antwerp is the most important Ankunftort. Other cities with the possibility that a ship can dock will stage their own arrivals.
Put up the shoe
Between the official arrival of Sinterklaas (mid-November) and the evening of December 5th, the children put their shoes in front of the fireplace, in front of the central heating or at the back door. A drawing for Sint Nicolaas or something tasty for the horse is often stuffed in the shoe. According to tradition, Sinterklaas rides a white horse over the roofs and comes with his helper Zwarte Piet through the chimney into the houses to bring presents to the children who live there. The next morning the children find candy or a small present in the shoe. Chocolate letters are a traditional gift .
Pakjesavond
The actual festival is celebrated on the evening of December 5th, the eve of the holy day. In the south of the Netherlands and parts of Belgium Sinterklaas is celebrated on the evening of December 6th. At Pakjesavond , Sinterklaas brings gifts, especially toys for the children. This "package evening" goes back to a pre-Christian custom in which gifts were distributed among the group. Apples and nuts were autumn symbols of the fertility of the soil. In the course of time, this scattering evening took the place of the actual Sinterklaas festival.
Regional differences and "competition" from Santa Claus
The Sinterklaas Festival is celebrated throughout the Netherlands, except in the Frisian village of Grouw . There they celebrate Sint-Piter on February 21st . Apart from the name, his origin (Sint-Piter is a personification of St. Peter ) and the color of his coat (white instead of red), Sint-Piter is almost identical to Sinterklaas.
Customs on the Frisian Islands differ greatly from the rest of the Netherlands. There they celebrate Sunderklaas on December 5th . Men walk around in the streets masked, while women and children have to stay at home. Anyone who is recognized as a woman or girl on the street will receive a “blow” as a punishment. However, it is a challenge, especially among local young women, to take part in the move without being caught, and thus to tease the men. A similar tradition takes place on the same day under the name Klaasohm on the East Frisian island of Borkum , which is the closest to the Frisian islands. It was common on Wangerooge and Helgoland until the 19th century .
On Texel is celebrated a week after the Sinterklaas festival the "old Sunderklaas". Disguised and masked, the past year is taken "on the hook" (comparable to Krampus ).
In Flanders , too , the celebrations do not take place at the same time. In the Aalst region and in the Westhoek and Poperinge, St. Martin is celebrated on November 11th. The associated legend differs slightly from that of Sinterklaas. The angels are celebrated in the small community of Westouter . The origin of this is unclear, but it is believed to date back to British soldiers during the First World War .
At the end of the 20th century, Sinterklaas got "competition" from Santa Claus (kerstman) as a gift bringer. This was originally also Sinterklaas, but this slowly changed over the years. The festival is no longer just for children. Adults also give gifts to each other.
Santa claus
The American name of Santa Claus, Santa Claus, which was a modification of Sinterklaas by the Dutch immigrants who are in Nieuw Amsterdam of the English language were adjusted. However, Santa Claus does not bring presents on December 5th or 6th, but only on Christmas morning. Santa Claus came back to Europe via America and was first known there in Great Britain . Even in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas competes with himself as Kerstman (= Santa Claus).
watch TV
Sinterklaas has become a real icon on Dutch and Belgian television. Numerous Sinterklaas series and films were made. Some of these have also appeared in German, such as Winky wants a horse from 2005 or Benni, the rascal from 2013.
A media event is the arrival of Sinterklaas by steamship. This will be broadcast live in the Netherlands in mid-November - on a Saturday about three weeks before the holiday. Since 2001 there has been a Sinterklaas Tagesschau every evening for children three days before arrival until December 4th, which reports on the daily experiences of Sinterklaas, but above all of the many Zwarte Pieten . Usually something goes wrong when preparing for the festival, which is saved every year at the last moment - on December 4th.
holiday
Nowadays, St. Nicholas' Day has been abolished as a public holiday worldwide.
criticism
Against the Sinterklaas festival, there was initially strong criticism from Protestant circles because of the Catholic veneration of saints. Around 1600 the celebration of the Sinterklaas festival was banned in Delft , which other communities joined. The church reformer Martin Luther also spoke out against this festival. Only in the 19th century did resistance to the festival gradually break down.
The figure of Zwarte Piet is now widely criticized as being racist .
Web links
- Sinterklaasfeest on the website of the Kenniscentrum Immaterieel Erfgoed Nederland (Dutch)
- Sinterklaasjournaal (Dutch)
- De Stoompage van Sinterklaas (Dutch)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Is the "Sinterklaas" a racist figure? Article on Spiegel Online of October 23, 2003. Retrieved September 28, 2019.