Sinterklaas is based on a legendary figure called St. Nicholas, the bishop of Myra (Turkey) and patron saint of children. After his death in 343 a.d., stories about his good deeds quickly spread around Europe and were transformed into a holiday (the sinterklaasfeest) during the Middle Ages. This originated with helping the poor by putting money in their shoes, and later evolved to putting presents in children’s shoes. The Dutch have moved the original celebration date from the 6th of December (the name day of St. Nicholas) to the evening of December 5th, when Sinterklaasavond (also known as “pakjesavond” or “het heerlijk avondje”) is celebrated.

You will recognize Sinterklaas as being a dressed up, stately man with a long white beard, red mitre and a red cape over a bishop’s alb. He traditionally rides a white horse, holds a long ceremonial shepherd’s staff, carries a big book with children’s names and is accompanied by many helpers called Piet. These “Pieten” assist Sinterklaas with handing out sweets to children and racing down chimneys to fill their shoes with presents.

Traditionally Sinterklaas and Piet were said to be keeping track of “naughty children”, spanking them with a chimney sweep’s broom and placing them in a bag to take back to Spain. Over the years this tradition has (luckily) faded out, and kids in the Netherlands can be joyful about the arrival of Piet and Sinterklaas instead of having to fear spankings or abductions.