Dutch Language Blog

For now, this will be the last post about Sinterklaas. If anyone has more questions about him and the Zwarte Pieten, please do no hesitate to ask.

Now, finally, the link between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus. A little history:

December 1931. Suddenly he was there and there was no way to avoid him. He was everywhere; on billboards, in advertisements, in the shop windows – the chubby, round faced, white bearded good guy was a fact. To this day, this is the standard image of Santa Claus and you can hardly imagine a time he just wasn’t there.

Haddon Sundblom was responsible for this public appearance of Santa Claus or ‘de kerstman’ as we call him in the Netherlands (free translation: the Christmas man, comparable to ‘father Christmas’). Sundblom drew this version of Santa Claus on a direct order from the Coca-Cola Company. They wanted to promote the brown drink a little extra around Christmas time and the most convenient way was to use Santa Claus. To this day, people still believe that Sundblom designed this modern image of Santa, but in his days the many Santa’s had been reduced to one type for about twenty years: the fat, jovial guy with moustache, short beard, rosy cheeks, dressed in some sort of Russian peasant outfit, brown boots and red ‘sleeping cap’ included.

What Sundblom did do, was develop this standard image a little step further and give it public attention. The cola-commercial with the ‘kerstman’ started in the renowned paper/magazine Saturday Evening Post. This would determine the image of Santa Claus for years to come; as a sneaky good hearted guy, plundering the refrigerator, binging down cookies and gulping down the cola. A figure parents could identify with, a figure children didn’t need to fear, like Sinterklaas.

The Swedish American had modelled the appearance of Santa Claus after the looks of his neighbour, a Mr. Lou Haddon, a retired trades man. After Lou passed away, Sundblom used himself as a model. In the 35 years he was drawing Santa’s for the Coca-Cola Company, he kept changing little details.

In 1863 Santa had already received a facelift. This happened by Thomas Nast, an American who immigrated from Germany. In a book for children, he changed the strict and solemn Klaas into an elflike figure with human features. Still, Santa held the slightly threatening list in his hand, with the names of all children: the good and the bad!

Nast refined his original image in Christmas drawings he made for 23 years for the magazine Harper’s Weekly. He also invented Santa’s workshop on the North pole, where elves made the presents destined for the good children on Christmas eve.

So, how did Santa Claus come into existence? Believe it or not, he started out as a spin-off of Sinterklaas/Sint Nicolaas. When Dutch immigrants settled down in sixteenth century New York, they took the phenomenon Sinterklaas with them, or ‘Sinty Claus’ as English speaking children soon called him.

The transformation from the regal bishop of Myra/Madrid on his horse, to chubby children’s friend from the North pole in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, was a slow one. If we are to believe the newspapers from those days, Dutch immigrants in 1774 celebrated a party that closely resembles Sinterklaas on the 4^th of December.

In 1809 the popular writer Diedrich Knickerbocker (pseudonym for Washington Irving) described a bearded figure, riding a horse over rooftops, in his satirical novel: History of New York. This figure however didn’t wear a ‘mijter’ or bishops robes, but a broad rimmed hat and red baggy pants.

Twelve years later, William Gilley wrote a poem about ‘Santeclaus’ dressed in fur, riding in a sleigh, pulled by one reindeer. A year later Sinterklaas had completely transformed into Santa Claus. In his poem ‘The night before Christmas’, another American, Clement Moore, tells how Santa hides presents in stockings near the fire place and how he drove around in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. The poem was a regular hit and a bestseller. Moore describes Santa as an old man with a found face and a round tummy. Shortly thereafter, the reindeer received names: Dasher, Prancer, Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Prancer and Vixen. And what about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? He appeared for the first time in 1939 as a creation of Robert May an employee with the Montgomery Ward Company. According to him, Rudolph was an outcast in the group because of his odd red nose. But rehabilitation followed when it appeared that Santa couldn’t go out on a foggy Christmas eve, but Rudolph saved the day by guiding them all to safety with his shiny red nose. As a reward, he became the ninth reindeer.

Ever since 1841, Santa Claus travels the rooftops, just like Sinterklaas, throwing gifts down the chimneys. Another feature taken from Sinterklaas and used by shopkeeper J. Parkinson who hired a stuntman that year. This guy, dressed like Santa, crawled onto the rooftop and sat down next to the chimney.

In the entire nineteenth century, there were all kinds of images of Santa Claus co-existing. On one he was small and fat, on another he was tall and skinny. He also had changing outfits. In 1885 Louis Prang, a printer from Boston, published Christmas cards with a Santa Claus in brown boots, red outfit, carrying a large bag over his shoulder. Slowly, this image replaced all others so finally in 1920, on November 27, the New York Times was able to print: Everywhere in town, children see the same Santa Claus. Eleven years later, Sundblom would perfect this image.

In December 1925, American newspapers mentioned that Santa Claus did not live on the North Pole, but in Lapland because there was grass for the reindeer. Two years later the Finnish radio revealed the exact location: Korvatunturi.

During the WWII, Santa took a ride with the American troops to West-Europe and here to he became a familiar figure. Since the fourties, when the U.S. said goodbye to the Great Depression and money started to roll again, Santa’s popularity only increased. Also in Europe.

We also know a different ‘kerstman’ who is much older than his American colleague. In England he is known as Father Christmas, in France as Père Noël and in Germany as ‘der Weihnachtsmann’. He has nothing to do with Sinterklaas, but appears to be a christened version of ancient gods like Neptune and Thor. Even though Sinterklaas also has misty ties with these ancient gods, he’s still based on a completely different historical person. Still, Father Christmas is more and more replaced by the boisterous Santa Claus yelling ‘Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas’.

As a protest, the American artist Robert Cenedella put a controversial painting on display a few years ago in the window of the New Yorks Art Students Leagye. A painting on which you could see Santa Clause hanging on the cross. Their was great indignation in the orthodox Christian circle. But all Cenedella ment to do, was show how a materialistic Santa Clause replaced the figure of Christ during Christmas time. And whether you believe or not… he did have a point.

For those who want to have a glimpse at the famous Jan Steen picture mentioned in the previous post… here’s a link to the website of the Dutch Museum showing the picture.

http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_assets/SK-A-385?page=3〈=nl&context_space=&context_id=

Traditionally, the eve before the celebration, is called ‘Pakjesavond’ (the fifth of December) and could be translated as: The eve of gifts, or more literally: ‘Parcel evening’.

The eve of gifts was not very common before the war, due to the years of crisis. After the war, the climbing wealth and stabilising economy, made room for a more giving culture: a party of gifts to celebrate the old Dutch ‘Sinterklaasfeest’.

When the ‘shoe setting’ was just for the rich in the years before, after the war more and more families started this tradition in the private of their homes.

Slowly, Sinterklaas transformed from an invisible saint to a grandpa like figure who started to visit the children with the aid of his Moorish helpers in their homes, always bringing a bag filled with gifts. Of course, the role of Sinterklaas and the ‘Zwarte Pieten’ was taken by the father, a friendly uncle or another member of the family.

At first parents gave their children home made presents, later on this changed to bought gifts.

Also large companies like: Hoogovens, Shell and others, made sure the children of their employees would receive a present.

Today, ‘The eve of gifts’ is not just for children. Adults (in family, friend or business circle) also give each other anonymous gifts (like ‘secret Santa’) often gift wrapped in a ‘surprise’ (a funny way to gift wrap a present, often with a personal theme for the person the gift is intended for). The ‘Sinterklaasgedicht’ is also a popular tradition… it’s a little poem, also with a personal theme.

As I mentioned a few times before, Sinterklaas does not work alone. These days he’s accompanied with an entire army of ‘Zwarte Pieten’. The last seven years or so, there’s even a special children’s program, following the adventures and preparations of the Zwarte Pieten before the celebration. There’s always some bad guy involved who – for some reason – tries to thwart the Zwarte Pieten to successfully complete their preparations and their journey to Holland. Sinterklaas is always blissfully ignorant of all the problems that arrive and the Zwarte Pieten go through great lengths to keep the problems secret from Sinterklaas, so he doesn’t have to worry, always in the hope to succeed just in time.

The show is called: ‘De club van Sinterklaas’ and every year the theme-song is changed to fit the main problem of the show … first years always sung and written by ‘Cool Pete’ currently also known as Diego, and this year for the first time by ‘PJ’ (pun to DJ) and ‘Dance Pete’.

Other reoccurring ‘Petes’ are: ‘Prof Pete’ (professor), ‘Music Pete’(Elvis look-alike Pete who can’t sing worth a damn), ‘Test Pete’ (to test the gifts), ‘Help Pete’ (to assist all the others), ‘High Heights’ Pete’ (to coordinate the journey across the Dutch rooftops), ‘Show the Way Pete’ (to coordinate the journey from Spain to the Netherlands), ‘Acrobat Pete’, ‘Paint Pete’ and ‘Hocus Pocus Pete’ (a poor excuse for a magician).

Needless to say, children love to watch this show!

Here are the lyrics to this years theme song: De Club van Sinterklaas – De grote Onbekende

(The Club of Sinterklaas – The Great Unknown) and its translation. You can also click on below link to download and listen to the song. It’s a translation to stay truest to it’s meaning… so I didn’t try to make a translation on rhyme.

01-de_club_van_sinterklaas-de_grote_onbekende

De Club van Sinterklaas – DE GROTE ONBEKENDE

Vrienden en vriendinnetjes, we zijn hier weer met zijn allen bij de Club van Sinterklaas! Hoor je wel, we maken er een feestje van met PJ achter de tafel! Komt ie! Hey… Rrrrrr Ai!

The Club of Sinterklaas – The Great Unknown

Friends, we are here together again with the Club of Sinterklaas! Can you hear it? We’re making a party with PJ at the controls! Here it goes! Hey…Rrrrrr Ai!

I thought

A year without a fuss

Just to go to Holland

One time without having to hope

But

As I had feared

The largest children’s party

is threatened to go down again

Sint, even the Queen, is out of spirits

So this year stay at home

Something’s going on

The Sint his Petes standby

You can hear it in the streets

It’s time for a new heroic act!

What! Where! How or Who?

The Great Unknown who

wants to spoil Sint’s party

who is so cold and mean?

What’s going on?

Will we succeed this year?

It’s a fine old mess because of

The Great Unknown!

Woohoohoo

Why does each year

The Club needs to intervene

To save the party of Sinterklaas

Years of tension

I’m almost getting used to it

But I dare to say

That good old St. Nick

Is quite bothered with it

The party for each kid

Starts every year

With bad luck and that’s not nice

So call them together

The Club of Sinterklaas is always prepared!

What! Where! How or Who?

The Great Unknown who

wants to spoil Sint’s party

who is so cold and mean?

What’s going on?

Will we succeed this year?

It’s a fine old mess because of

The Great Unknown!

Woohoohoo

[repeat of chorus]

I almost forgot a very Dutch tradition… It’s been very busy here so I completely forgot about it until after the ‘event’ was over… Of course I’m talking about the Dutch children’s hero: Sinterklaas.

Every year on the 5^th of November, Sinterklaas comes to the Netherlands from Spain with a large steam boat, his trusted horse Amerigo and his Moorish helpers, ‘de Zwarte Pieten’ or ‘Black Petes’. He comes to the Netherlands to celebrate his birthday and on the 6^th of December when Sinterklaas returns to Spain, all children receive a present.

So how did this all get started?

About 1600 years ago, a certain Nicolaas was the bishop of Myra, a city in small Asia which was under Roman command. He was loved amongst the people because of his generosity for the poor and his love for children. After his death in 326, his bones were transferred to Italy.

For centuries people worshipped him, adults and children alike. Churches and places were named after him, he became the patron for shippers, travellers, students, children, prisoners, bakers, merchants, lawyers, cities (Amsterdam) and countries (Russia and Greece).

In those days it was already custom that children received a present from a bearded man on a white horse, if they hadn’t been naughty of course.

After some time, Italy changed to Spain, hence the black Moorish helpers.

The origin of the modern Sinterklaas celebration, can be traced back to the 19^th century.

A teacher from Amsterdam, Jan Schenkman (1806 – 1863) wrote the children’s book

‘Sint Nicolaas en zijn knecht’ (St. Nicholas and his helper) with the text from the still popular Sinterklaas song: Zie ginds komt de stoomboot (Here comes the steamboat).

Italy became Spain and the ‘roe’ and ‘zak’ of the Black Pete were also introduced (for pedagogic reasons). The ‘roe’ was some kind of ‘whisk’ made of small twigs and probably used to ‘punish’ bad children. The naughty children would be taken back to Spain in a large jute bag (the same bag that first contained all the presents).

Sint started to ride the white horse over the rooftops and the presents were delivered through the chimneys into the awaiting shoes of the children.

Another man to influence the celebration, was Jan Pieter Heije (1809 -1876) with his song: Zie de maan schijnt door de bomen (See the moon shine through the trees).

In the 90’s of the last century, the horse of Sinterklaas got a name in the Netherlands: Amerigo. In Belgium the horse is called: Slecht Weer Vandaag (Bad Weather Today).

In the 15^th century, people started to ‘place their shoes’. At first they did so at church and the profits would go to the poor. Rich people would put something in the placed shoes and the gifts were shared equally on the 6^th of December, the official date of death, of the Saint Nicholas.

In the 16^th century, children started to place their shoe near the fireplace in the living rooms and the Dutch artist Jan Steen made a painting of this happening in the 17^th century. On the paintings you can see what the children received in their shoes. Often it was candy… the kind we still associate with Sinterklaas… speculaas, pepernoten and marzipan. Besides candy children also received toys… and today the Chocolate letter is an important ingredient in the treats. Sometimes boys would find a ‘roe’ or a little bag of salt in their shoe.

Of course Sinterklaas appreciates it a lot, if he finds a carrot in the shoe for his horse, or an apple, or sugar cubes. Or if children make him a painting and sing a song when they place their shoe.

I’ll revisit this topic next time… because there’s still a lot to tell about Sinterklaas… and let’s not forget his connection to Santa Claus!