Suna in Wonderland

This year Sinterklaas must be really busy, because he came all the way to China.

Today (5th of Dec), the Netherlands is celebrating for Sinterklass day. (Also called Saint Nicolas’ Eve). From my observation, Dutch seem to celebrate more of Sinterklaas day than Christmas that rest of the world would usually celebrate (25^th of Dec).

What would happen in the Netherlands today is, children would put their shoes nearby fireplace in the evening and find present in the next morning.

But what makes different from normal Christmas is about Sinterklaas and Zwart Piet. Normally from our knowledge, Santa Claus remains ‘mysterious’ but in the Netherlands, you can actually see Sinterklaas. (They say Santa Claus and Sinterklaas are differnet, but i find it pretty much same. well, at least concept is same, isn’t it?)

Anyway, Sinterklaas would visit Children’s home or school with black Piet (Zwart Piet) who carries big sacks and a white horse. Sinterklaas would call out children’s name and ask if they were been naughty or not.(Just like Christmas song we sing all the time ) If he/she have been good this year then present will be rewarded but  if not, Zwart Piet would take him/her inside his sack and take them to Spain.

My dutch boyfriend told me that as for children, they would feel Spain is really far away that If Zwart Piet would take them they would never able to come back home. Plus Zwart Piet’s apprearence is really scary for Children. (Recently in the Netherlands, some raise voice that Zwart Piet is symbol of of discrimination that they should change color in to green. I am not sure, if that is going to happen soon though) He also used to get scared that he had to behave in front of them, how sweet.

So! As I said before, this year this Sinterklass visited Shanghai in China just for me. Somehow, Zwart Piet did not come but I guess it is either to save some travel expenses or I have been really good this year.

I got present which size is big as I am. A Christmas tree!!!! It is my first time in my life to have REAL Christmas tree. (I usually had plastic Christmas tree when I was young, every year same tree but I still loved it)

In a blink, whole house smells like forest and existence of Christmas tree encouraged my Christmas spirit, Christmas song  has been playing ever since in my house. Tomorrow I will be going for Christmas shopping to find some nice decorations! Yes, I am going to have long Christmas this year.

Thank you my dear Sinterklaas.

Everyone Happy Sinterklaas day~