Sinterklaas 2012

My view on holidays is: the more, the better.  I feel the same way about vacations, in case you haven't noticed (ryan's dad often jokes with us that work and school get in the way of our real life - which is all about vacations…at this point that is spot on).  Back to Sinterklaas, the story goes something like this:

Sinterklaas resides in sunny Spain all year except during Sinterklaas time.  At the beginning of December, he hops on a cruise ship and sails to a port near you to give gifts to all the good Dutch children in Holland and Belgium.  If you think this is a big job, don't worry, he's not alone.  He brings with him his court jester-like Zwarte Pieten (translation: black petes) to help him do all the heavy lifting (if you think these zwarte pieten are sounding eerily similar to slaves, you might be on to something).  Anyway, these Pieten, who are actually white guys that are painted completely black (shhh, don't tell the unsuspecting Dutch children), come and leave a gift in your shoe each night for about 2 weeks.  Then, on the night before "sinterklaas" you get a larger gift.  

As a parent, you might think that sounds like quite an investment to be giving so many gifts, but let me just tell you, the Anderson children have never been so well behaved.  They are BELIEVERS and so am I. 

Here's how we celebrated our new holiday:

First, at the "Intocht" at the harbor to welcome Sint back to Nederland.  He comes in on a cruise ship with all the piets.  See the piet on stage with the afro?  That's Disco Piet...

Then, we started putting our shoes out each night.  Could I have suggested that my children NOT put out their ugliest oldest shoes?  Yes, but this part was all on them.  If they forgot to put their shoe out, they didn't get anything.  If they did not go to bed on time and behave throughout the day, they were also high and dry.  Check out Kaydree's heartfelt letter...

 Then, we celebrated at the Pwc Sinterklaas party, it was quite the bash…

E getting her Glitter Tattoo 

Face Painting - the really pretty kind, not the messy and ugly kind

Mesmerized by Sinterklaas on stage

 Another thing about Sinterklaas, the Dutch have hundreds of songs for this holiday…probably more than Christmas songs.  We had to sing a Sinterklaas song in Dutch in front of the whole firm/families, apparently this is the tradition for newcomers to the country.

 Sinterklaas gave each child a present (which we hand selected via internet prior to the shin dig…I'm telling you, this holiday is a BIG DEAL here).

E with her Piet Hat 

A proudly holding her new Snow White bath Barbie

I can't wait for Sinterklaas 2013 and the well behaved children that will inevitably accompany it.