Christmas in Holland - Melanie and Ruby

Saint Nicolas.

In the past there was a man called Sinterklaas, in English its Saint Nicolas. He was a holy man who gives things to people. We still have this party, but he doesn’t exist anymore. When it’s around half November a man dressed like Saint Nicolas comes in the city. Little children wait for him in the city, so they get some candy and see him at the steam boat. When they put their shoes in front of the fireplace, sing songs and write a poem. Then the next day there is a present in their shoes. They think it was Saint Nicolas, but it were just their parents. Then at 5 December we celebrate Saint Nicolas evening, his birthday. Then everybody sings songs and get presents. Then Saint Nicolas is over.

Christmas.

Around half December we buy a Christmas tree. Everybody in your family decorate the Christmas tree, with shiny baubles and lights and in the top op the tree is a peak. At 24 December we have presents under the tree. Than everyone open a present with their name on it. At the second Christmas day we visit our grandparents, or other family. I love this time, because it is so peaceful and happy.

Christmas in Holland - Robbert van Tilborg: International Christmas

Christmas

As soon as the first winter winds blow through the city and as soon as the night begins early I start looking forward to the day I can get the Christmas stuff out of the cabinet. The great thing about Christmas is that it makes such a big part of the world feel connected. Both people in New York as people in Amsterdam or in Paris think of delicious food, a warm fire and Christmas trees with colored lamps. These countries might all celebrate Christmas, but all in a different way off course. Sometimes as different from each other as the name of the celebration might sound in different languages. Christmas, Weihnachten, Kerstmis, la Navidad and le Noël are the words that make people happy in many countries.
In the Netherlands Christmas is an extensive celebrated party as well. However, we celebrate it in many different ways. Some families come together to enjoy each others presence, others celebrate the day Jesus Christ was born and some wait till Santa Clause comes by to bring them some nice presents.
I celebrate Christmas with my friends and family, to give my way of Christmas as an example. In December we visit musicals, movies, big shopping malls and restaurants. From the first of December we’re all very busy with shopping and buying presents for each other. Every time anyone of us bought a present we put it under the decorated Christmas tree. The piling up heap of presents is getting bigger and bigger, and at Christmas eve we open all the presents and give them to its new owner. We wear neat suits and dresses, listen real Christmas music, drink glühwein and Champaign and eat the most delicious food. Though, for many Dutch people Christmas in Holland isn’t enough! We often visit the huge markets in Belgium or Germany. The number 1 holiday spots during Christmas are Paris for shopping and culture, Bern and Vienna for winter sports or the Dutch Antilles to get some sunshine during the winter!
In the past this celebration gave people hope in the dark nights, warmth in the cold winters and company in lonely days. Since the amount of religious people in the Netherlands decreased, this certain need to celebrate Christmas disappeared as well. Anyway, the Dutch winter still makes people rather grumpy, as it makes me grumpy. But when the first lights decorate the shopping mall and the well known commercials are on TV again this grumpiness makes place for a feeling of warmth. The feeling of Christmas.

Christmas in Holland - Chiara

Sinterklaas

On the 5th of December we celebrate ‘Sinterklaas’. Everybody celebrates it on their own way. We celebrate it with surprises. Everyone write their name and the things he wants to have on a peace of paper. You put them together. Than everyone can get one. For the person on the peace of paper you have to make something. Something funny or just something typical for that person. You also buy some presents. And on the 5th of December you give your surprise to each other.

SINTERKLAAS

ZWARTE PIET

Christmas

I really love Christmas! It’s always cosy and with all the decoration and the tasty food… On the 24th of December we celebrate Christmas evening. We eat something special. And we have some presents for each other. It’s very cosy. On the 25th we go to family. But I don’t really like that because our family isn’t very nice. And on the 26th we just stay at home

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