It is only seven days to Christmas in Holland

It is only seven days to Christmas in Holland

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Filipinos in the Netherlands are set to enjoy Christmas earlier than the period they usually spend it in the Philippines.

It’s now only seven days to Christmas, at least according to the children counting in the Netherlands, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Christmas for kids in the Netherlands is celebrated early. It is held every December 5, on the feast of St. Nicholas who the Dutch call Sinterklaas and is the patron of their children and sailors.

In a tradition based on local folklore, Sinterklaas arrives from Spain on the third weekend of November with more than 200 of his helpers called "Zwarte Pieten" or Black Petes or for simplicity are called by expats as "piets."

Thus on November 17, the arrival of Sinterklaas with 250 piets at the Scheveningen harbor marked the countdown to the children’s Christmas on December 5 and ultimately Christmas for everyone on December 25.

Thousands of children in Sinterklaas and "Zwarte Pieten" costumes braved the cold and windy weather to welcome with much fanfare, these two most popular Christmas figures.

Much loved by the children are these piets whose faces are black from soot because Dutch folklore says that they descend the chimneys on the night of December 5 to bring gifts from Sinterklaas.

Every year, thousands of kilos of sweets in the form of pepernootjes, or small spiced cookie buttons that taste like gingerbread, are baked and placed in dirty-white burlap bags which the piets throw to crowds who would line the streets.

Children and even their parents are simply fascinated by these mischievous, playful and acrobatic piets who have all the time in the world to entertain them.

Apart from being able to personally interact and mingle with the piets, families and children are also treated to live entertainment as they wait for the long procession which is the highlight of this special event.

Piets would ride the elegant and colorful floats, vintage and mini cars and ponies or simply walk doing their acrobatic stunts, accompanying Sinterklaas who would be riding on his white horse called "Amerigo".

Sinterklaas for his part is always a sight to see for the big crowd and is such a regal looker.

Wearing a red cape, Sinterklaas has a white flowing beard and wears a bishop’s miter and carries a long golden staff.

Brass bands would play nonstop music all throughout the long procession that starts from the harbor and ends well in the center of The Hague.

After the long ceremony of welcoming Mr. Christmas himself and his helpers, families flock the malls which are now fully decked with Yuletide ornaments and decorations.

Toys stores and toy aisles are jam-packed with these kids who are endlessly touching, feeling or shaking toy boxes to examine and gauge what they will wish for Sinterklaas to give them this year.

For some Filipinos, this is a very expensive tradition to follow, in addition to the customary gift-giving on Christmas Eve.

Rommel Loveranes says that Filipinos in the Netherlands give their children Christmas gifts two times here in Holland.

"Kaya nga magastos eh (That makes it a bit expensive)," Loveranes said.

But no matter how expensive it is to embrace a particular culture and to follow its tradition, no loving Filipino parent would be able to resist this unique tradition that gives twice the happiness that Christmas always brings to children, because Christmas really comes two times to the Netherlands.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=100699