{"id":32,"date":"2008-12-18T01:44:10","date_gmt":"2008-12-18T05:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=32"},"modified":"2008-12-18T01:44:10","modified_gmt":"2008-12-18T05:44:10","slug":"sinterklaas-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/sinterklaas-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinterklaas II"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

For those who want to have a glimpse at the famous Jan Steen picture mentioned in the previous post\u2026 here\u2019s a link to the website of the Dutch Museum showing the picture.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>http:\/\/www.rijksmuseum.nl\/aria\/aria_assets\/SK-A-385?page=3\u2329=nl&context_space=&context_id<\/span><\/a>=<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Traditionally, the eve before the celebration, is called \u2018Pakjesavond\u2019 (the fifth of December) and could be translated as: The eve of gifts, or more literally: \u2018Parcel evening\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u2018Sinterklaasfeest\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When the \u2018shoe setting\u2019 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. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>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 \u2018Zwarte Pieten\u2019 was taken by the father, a friendly uncle or another member of the family.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At first parents gave their children home made presents, later on this changed to bought gifts. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Also large companies like: Hoogovens, Shell and others, made sure the children of their employees would receive a present. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Today, \u2018The eve of gifts\u2019 is not just for children. Adults (in family, friend or business circle) also give each other anonymous gifts (like \u2018secret Santa\u2019) often gift wrapped in a \u2018surprise\u2019 (a funny way to gift wrap a present, often with a personal theme for the person the gift is intended for). The \u2018Sinterklaasgedicht\u2019 is also a popular tradition\u2026 it\u2019s a little poem, also with a personal theme. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As I mentioned a few times before, Sinterklaas does not work alone. These days he\u2019s accompanied with an entire army of \u2018Zwarte Pieten\u2019. The last seven years or so, there\u2019s even a special children\u2019s program, following the adventures and preparations of the Zwarte Pieten before the celebration. There\u2019s always some bad guy involved who \u2013 for some reason \u2013 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\u2019t have to worry, always in the hope to succeed just in time. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The show is called: \u2018De club van Sinterklaas\u2019 and every year the theme-song is changed to fit the main problem of the show \u2026 first years always sung and written by \u2018Cool Pete\u2019 currently also known as Diego, and this year for the first time by \u2018PJ\u2019 (pun to DJ) and \u2018Dance Pete\u2019. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Other reoccurring \u2018Petes\u2019 are: \u2018Prof Pete\u2019 (professor), \u2018Music Pete\u2019(Elvis look-alike Pete who can\u2019t sing worth a damn), \u2018Test Pete\u2019 (to test the gifts), \u2018Help Pete\u2019 (to assist all the others), \u2018High Heights\u2019 Pete\u2019 (to coordinate the journey across the Dutch rooftops), \u2018Show the Way Pete\u2019 (to coordinate the journey from Spain to the Netherlands), \u2018Acrobat Pete\u2019, \u2018Paint Pete\u2019 and \u2018Hocus Pocus Pete\u2019 (a poor excuse for a magician). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Needless to say, children love to watch this show!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Here are the lyrics to this years theme song: De Club van Sinterklaas \u2013 De grote Onbekende <\/span><\/p>\n

(The Club of Sinterklaas \u2013 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

01-de_club_van_sinterklaas-de_grote_onbekende<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

De Club van Sinterklaas – DE GROTE ONBEKENDE<\/span><\/p>\n

Vrienden en vriendinnetjes, we zijn hier weer met zijn allen bij de Club van Sinterklaas! <\/span>Hoor je wel, we maken er een feestje van met PJ achter de tafel! <\/span>Komt ie! Hey\u2026 Rrrrrr Ai!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ik dacht
\nEen jaartje geen gedoe
\nGewoon naar Holland toe
\nEen keertje zonder moeten hopen
\nMaar
\nIk had het al gevreesd
\nHet grootste kinderfeest
\nDreigt weer eens in de soep te lopen
\nSint, zelfs de Koningin, heeft er geen zin meer in
\nDus blijf dit jaar maar thuis
\nDit is niet pluis dus staat
\nDe Sint zijn Club paraat
\nEn hoor je t in de straat
\nt is tijd voor weer een nieuwe heldendaad!
\nWat! Waar! Hoe of Wie?
\nDe Grote Onbekende die
\nHet Feest van Sint verstoren wil
\nWie is zo koud, gemeen en kil?
\nWat is dit nou weer
\nLukt het ons ook deze keer
\nHet is weer eens bende door
\nDe Onbekende!
\nWooohooohoo
\nWaarom moet toch elk jaar
\nDe Club weer bij elkaar
\nOm Sinterklaas zijn Feest te redden
\nJaren lang gespannen staan
\nIk wen er bijna aan
\nIk durf er bijna op te wedden
\nDat die goeie ouwe Sint
\nDit best vervelend vindt
\nHet Feest voor ieder kind
\nBegint al ieder jaar
\nMet pech en dat is naar
\nDus roep ze bij elkaar
\nDe Club van Sinterklaas staat altijd klaar!
\nWat! Waar! Hoe of Wie?
\nDe Grote Onbekende die
\nHet Feest van Sint verstoren wil
\nWie is zo koud, gemeen en kil?
\nWat is dit nou weer
\nLukt het ons ook deze keer
\nHet is weer eens bende door
\nDe Onbekende!
\nWooohooohoo
\nDe Club van Sinterklaas
\nDe Club van Sinterklaas
\nDe Club van Sinterklaas
\nWat! Waar! Hoe of Wie?
\nDe Grote Onbekende die
\nHet Feest van Sint verstoren wil
\nWie is zo koud, gemeen en kil?
\nWat is dit nou weer
\nLukt het ons ook deze keer
\nHet is weer eens bende door
\nDe Grote Onbekende!<\/span><\/div>\n

The Club of Sinterklaas \u2013 The Great Unknown<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Friends, we are here together again with the Club of Sinterklaas! <\/span>Can you hear it? We\u2019re making a party with PJ at the controls! Here it goes! Hey\u2026Rrrrrr Ai!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I thought<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A year without a fuss<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just to go to Holland<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One time without having to hope<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As I had feared<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The largest children\u2019s party <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

is threatened to go down again<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sint, even the Queen, is out of spirits<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So this year stay at home<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Something\u2019s going on<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sint his Petes standby<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You can hear it in the streets<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s time for a new heroic act!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What! Where! How or Who?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Great Unknown who<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

wants to spoil Sint\u2019s party<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

who is so cold and mean?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s going on?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Will we succeed this year?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fine old mess because of<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Great Unknown!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Woohoohoo<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Why does each year<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Club needs to intervene<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To save the party of Sinterklaas<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Years of tension<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m almost getting used to it<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But I dare to say<\/span><\/p>\n

That good old St. Nick<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Is quite bothered with it<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The party for each kid<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Starts every year<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With bad luck and that\u2019s not nice<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So call them together<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Club of Sinterklaas is always prepared!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

What! Where! How or Who?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Great Unknown who<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

wants to spoil Sint\u2019s party<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

who is so cold and mean?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s going on?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Will we succeed this year?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fine old mess because of<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Great Unknown!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Woohoohoo<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>[repeat of chorus]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For those who want to have a glimpse at the famous Jan Steen picture mentioned in the previous post\u2026 here\u2019s a link to the website of the Dutch Museum showing the picture. http:\/\/www.rijksmuseum.nl\/aria\/aria_assets\/SK-A-385?page=3\u2329=nl&context_space=&context_id= Traditionally, the eve before the celebration, is called \u2018Pakjesavond\u2019 (the fifth of December) and could be translated as: The eve of gifts…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3590],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-dutch-language"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}