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Creative => Story-Telling => Topic started by: Gis on November 11, 2010, 01:54:07

Title: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on November 11, 2010, 01:54:07
So the story around St. Nicholas of Myra (turkey) is very old and is celebrated in many countries. The current Dutch tradions surrounding this holy man are based on a picture book written by an teacher from Amsterdam in 1850. Of course many things have been added to these traditions over the years.

There are a couple of things that are very typical of this first story though. It's about "The Saint" coming from Spain in a steamboat with his helpers the Zwarte Pieten (black pete's). The reason for coming is to give the children of the Netherlands a presents on his birthday (5th of December).

Another very important part of tradition is the many " Sinterklaas" songs. The oldest one is "Zie ginds komt de stoomboot" (Look, there is the steamboat). To get fully in the spirit you can start the song here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ-QAp9-Bbk)

The first rumours for this years celebrations roughly started last Saturday (November 6th) when the first teasers were aired in which "Dieuwertje Blok", the person who has been hosting the Sinterklaas News since the beginning in 2001, had the first contact with some Zwarte Pieten. The teasers were referring to the first official News broadcast that happened earlier today (November 10th)!

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/St-News-teaser.jpg)

As you can see, she already had some "live" *cough* contact with a couple of the Zwarte Pieten on board of the Steamboat.

So currently the Steamboat is making its way from Spain to the Netherlands and the updates are currently about the adventures and mishaps that ALWAYS happen during this trip.
 
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/News.jpg)

The other stories are from the Zwarte Pieten that travelled to the Netherlands already, making sure the house Sinterklaas will be staying is completely ready to host him.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Pieten.jpg)

---

I hope you enjoyed the first installement, I will do the following installments together with the actual happenings in the Netherlands!
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: bonniebeth on November 11, 2010, 02:02:26
This is interesting. Thanks for posting this, Gis. It's fun to hear about the different traditions from around the world, how they are different and how they are similar.
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: skypurr on November 11, 2010, 02:28:50
Thank you for telling us about this Gis, :thanks: I didn't know anything about the steamboat.
It is great to see the story in pictures too  :clap:
Looking forward to seeing further installments.

Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Lindama on November 11, 2010, 02:56:38
Lovely to hear about this tradition. Sounds like great fun for the kids.
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Wolf Knight on November 11, 2010, 06:40:24
Always happy to learn traditions from around the world!!! Thank you Gis!!!
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: tonguello on November 11, 2010, 10:46:04
Yes thanks for sharing! I've first heard about Sinterklaas when the set came out  :lol:
I'm still trying to understand the whole story, so this is a bit clarifying!  ;D
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: basilsdad on November 11, 2010, 12:52:53
 :wave: Thank you, Gis.  I hadn't heard about Zwarte Pieten or a steam boat.  The pictures you included are so charming and warm the heart!  :love:
Joe
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Ali Baba on November 12, 2010, 08:00:55
Thanks Gis. Very good. Sinterklaas rules!

Catch Dutch television this saturday, everyone. He will be arriving in Holland. You could also visit Harderwijk, if you like.
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on November 14, 2010, 00:03:03
Quote from: Ali Baba on November 12, 2010, 08:00:55
Thanks Gis. Very good. Sinterklaas rules!

Catch Dutch television this saturday, everyone. He will be arriving in Holland. You could also visit Harderwijk, if you like.

LOL thats the short version,,,here is the long version of what roughly happened today + some extra info!

(No Playmo photo’s today. Lack of time and to much work would have gone into making these out of Playmo. We also don’t have the necessary number of “Zwarte Pieten”)

So today was the big day!! Sinterklaas finally set foot on Dutch soil. We didn’t go to the official place where the television was nor did we go to one of the local ones. You have to understand that there is only one “official” Sinterklaas. This is the one that is shown on television, however there are many “Hulp Sinterklasen” (Helper St Nicks) because everyone understands that the real one can’t be everywhere at the same time.
 
There was a big live broadcast from the Sinterklaas News. In which a couple of mysteries that had arisen since the start were solved. The moving bag (a bag which normally contains presents or candy) held a baby Zwarte Piet, and de “Pepernoten” (see below) that were accidentally cast overboard by one of the Zwarte Pieten were replaced.

The steamboat “Pakjesboot 12” (Presentboat 12) had over a lot Zwarte Pieten on board as well as of course Sinterklaas.
 
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Pakjesboot12.jpg)

One of the boats that had already landed had Sinterklaas’ white horse “Amerigo” on board so he was already waiting on the docks.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/amerigo_middelburg01.jpg)

There are many generic Zwarte Pieten, but there is also a whole host of special ones. Like the “Head Piet”, “Song Piet”, “Forget Piet” some of these are actually played by famous Dutch actors.

There are lots of sweets associated with Sinterklaas, however two are more or less mandatory. The first one are “pepernoten” (also known as “kruidnoten”) these little cookies are actually handed out by the Zwarte Pieten to all the little kids. In the past they were also thrown to the children, but I guess “health and safety” has made this practice a lot less common.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/pepernoten_1_1.jpg)

The other typical candy is “Chocolate Letters” and yes it is exactly what you think. You can buy, in all different kinds of chocolate, the letters of the Alphabet. So kids usually get the first letter of their name in chocolate at some point. Or if they are really lucky the first letter of both their first and last name.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/chocoladeletter.jpg)

That’s it for today. More tomorrow :-) (time permitting)

Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: playmovictorian on November 14, 2010, 00:19:18
This is wonderful Gis  :wave:

What a festival of colors and yummy delights  :love:

I feel like eating some chockies now  :-[

Karim :)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on November 14, 2010, 13:50:57
I am enjoying this version of a Santa Claus history story that I have not heard of before! It is very refreshing to see other traditions still going strong! Thank you Gis!
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Justindo on November 14, 2010, 18:44:06
That's a very nice beginning to your photo story, Gis! :)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on November 14, 2010, 20:41:29
Tonights installment has been posponed...after the arrival of Sinterklaas at our local shopping center we decided to spend the afternoon with friends instead of working on the photo story....

So you'll have to wait till next week...as I am very busy traveling and such this week!
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on November 21, 2010, 03:44:24
Here is the next part, we will see the local arrival, in both Playmo and pics I made last week  :)

First is the arrival, this is usually done with a small boat.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Boat_real.jpg)

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Boat_playmo.jpg)

Often the mayor of the city is present to invite the Sint to the city! Here you see him giving a small interview to the reporter from a local TV station. The Mayor is of course always very honored to be able to welcome the Sint personally!

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Interview.jpg)

While people are waiting for the arrival, there is usually a podium and a big band. The big band plays Sinterklaas songs while kids are invited on stage for all sorts of fun. Here you see some kids (imagine they have painted black faces and wearing Zwarte Pieten clothes) doing a little dance.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Show.jpg)

There are always many people that show up to be part of the arrival of the Sint.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/People.jpg)
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/People2.jpg)

The kids specifically like it a lot as it means lots of Pepernoten that the Zwarte Pieten hand out!! You can also see the Mayor welcoming the Sint in the Playmo-picture.

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Pepernoten_Real.jpg)
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/ShakeB.jpg)

Here you can see one of the most important tasks of Sinterklaas during this day. Interacting with the kids, shaking hands, receiving drawings and so on!

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Shake_Real.jpg)
 (http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Shake_Playmo.jpg)

The Zwarte Pieten often join in on the fun happening on the stage, dancing, singing and in general acting silly!

 (http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Stage.jpg)

Of course the Sint is also welcomed by the reporter and gives a small interview mainly about the trip and how happy he is to finally be in place XXX

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Talk2.jpg)

The Sint will then make his appearance on the podium and interact some more with some kids, often having them sing songs and asking some nice questions. Of course the big band will happily join in with those songs so the crowd can sing to their hearts content!

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/vvv.jpg)

And finally he gets on Amerigo, his trusty white horse and rides around greeting more people in the city!

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Wave.jpg)

Finally here is a picture of our local news paper, I am in the left circle and my kids are both (although you can hardly see my daughter) in the other one!

(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/Paper.jpg)

Next update hopefully tomorrow!!

PS making this was a lot of fun as this was the first shoot I did together with my wife. The kids also joined in earlier but had some trouble with keeping all the klickies upright (domiNOOOOOOO!!!) so we finished up after they went to bed!
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: henry_martini on November 21, 2010, 04:57:57
Cute and instructive.  :)


H_M
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: tonguello on November 21, 2010, 10:08:55
this is so great! I love the parallelism of playmo and reality pics!  :lol:
I had no clue about this tradition until Playmobil released the set! PM IS educational!!!!!!!!!!!!  :love: :love: :love: :love:
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Wolf Knight on November 21, 2010, 10:31:17
Gaston is right!!! Your parallel actual events with the playmobil photos are great to look at Gis!!! Thanks for bringing Christmas a little closer!!! :love: :love:
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Sylvia on November 21, 2010, 11:34:42

This is a very interesting story, Gis! 8-)

It's fantastic how you have recreated each scene with Playmobil. I'm glad the kids had fun with it too! :D
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Daniela on November 21, 2010, 12:09:36
Wonderful pictures!

I know the story very well, but the Playmo Illustration is so cute!  :love:

Thanks a lot, Gis!

Daniela
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on November 21, 2010, 22:00:26
Today is just a small update, but it is a very important tradition for the kids!!!

To get in the right mood please start this video http://vimeo.com/7987998 which is a compilation of Sinterklaas songs!

So from the first night Sinterklaas is in the Netherlands until the 4th of December kids are allowed to “set their shoe” this is a very similar tradition to the hanging of the stockings during Christmas. The kids will put their shoes next to the fireplace and include things like carrots for the horse, drawings for Sinterklaas and sometimes a beer for the Zwarte Pieten. They will sing songs as well, encouraged by their parents to sing hard but beautiful so the Sint can hear how well they sing. Our kids are only allowed to “set there shoe” three times each year, during each of the weekends the Sint is in the country.
(http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/IMG_3057.jpg)

During the night the Sint will ride Amerigo over the roofs while the Zwarte Pieten climb and jump all the way. They will climb down the chimneys (the Zwarte Pieten are black because of the soot) to put presents into the kids shoes, taking all that was left behind for them.

 (http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a415/gorraxpb/Stuffs/IMG_3063.jpg)

The next installment will be in the final weekend of our Sinterklaas celebration (4/5 December) until then: “Be good or the Zwarte Piet will put you in his bag and take you to Spain!” (This is an actual threat used during the year when kids are midbehaving. Often said jokingly and a lot less used these days then in the past.)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: tonguello on November 22, 2010, 01:44:57
Wow that's interesting. We have a similar tradition (latin america and spain...I don't know if there's more)
We set out our shoes (kids I mean), on the night of January 5th so the 3 Wise Kings would leave presents. We also leave water and grass for the Camels!  ;D
Do you do that in the Netherlands or rest of Europe too?
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on November 22, 2010, 03:31:05
Nope Gaston, we don't do that in The Netherlands. and I am not aware if others are doing it, anyone?
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Wolf Knight on November 22, 2010, 19:59:43
Quote from: tonguello on November 22, 2010, 01:44:57
Wow that's interesting. We have a similar tradition (latin america and spain...I don't know if there's more)
We set out our shoes (kids I mean), on the night of January 5th so the 3 Wise Kings would leave presents. We also leave water and grass for the Camels!  ;D
Do you do that in the Netherlands or rest of Europe too?

We just leave a red sock over the fireplace, if there is a fireplace, otherwise under the tree, so that Santa Claus leaves the presents there... My parents used to put my present on the balcony early morning of New Year's Day and told me Santa Claus had left it...

Santa Claus brings the presents in New Year's Day for us... Well come to think of it, St Nicolaus (his name is celebrated in 6th of December) is not the Santa Claus for us (although in the scibes he is known as a secret gift giver, such as coins in shoes etc, to the deprived ones...)...but rather,  Saint Basil of Caesarea is our Santa Claus... His name day is celedrated on the 1st of January and this day is mostly associated with giving gifts in Greece, because Saint Basil was known for helping the poor, hungry and unfortunate...he also donated his whole property, once he became a Bishop, to the poor and founded various institutions for them...

But there is also another reason why we consider him more as a gift giver rather than Saint Nicolaus...when Saint Basil, back in the fourth century, was Bishop of Caesarea, Julian the Apostate was the Roman Emperor and he ordered a heavy taxation on Caesarea for his war with Persia...The Emperor was killed at that war and the Bishop gathered all the money from the taxes and donated them to various charitable institutions...What was left from those coins, he ordered to be baked in bread and given to the poor...Thus, on the first of January,we have the custom of the Saint Basil's Bread.... grandmothers bake a bread in which they put a coin...whoever gets the fake gold coin gets a present...  ;)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Sylvia on November 22, 2010, 20:26:00

I've heard before about a tradition of leaving a boot out which gets filled with treats or gifts. This is done in some parts of Germany also, isn't it?

Our kids have a stocking which they hang from the mantelpiece. I never did this myself as a child back in Australia, but we've adopted quite a few of the local traditions since we moved here. :)

Quote from: tonguello on November 22, 2010, 01:44:57
We also leave water and grass for the Camels!  ;D

This is funny! ;D A slight variation on leaving a carrot for Rudolph the reindeer. :)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: skypurr on November 23, 2010, 03:43:23
I love hearing about all the different traditions in different countries. 
On Christmas Eve we hang up stockings and  leave a mince pie and a glass of sherry for Father Christmas and a carrot for the reindeer etc.,  but also since they were small my boys have always sprinkled 'magic reindeer food' outside just before they went to bed  (this is a mixture of oats and glitter) the idea being that the glitter will sparkle in the light from the moon and stars and so attract the reindeer who fly down to eat the oats, therefore bringing Father Christmas and their presents - It always worked  :lol:

A very different modern twist to being sent to Spain if they are not good that we used was to tell them that the star - * button on the telephone was a snowflake and a direct link to Father Christmas if they were naughty  ;D

Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Daniela on November 23, 2010, 09:54:33
You are right, Sylvia!

In Germany, we are leaving our (well cleaned!!!) boots outside the door and the night before the 6th of December "Sankt Nikolaus" will fill them with sweets, apples, nuts and little toys. And if you havn´t been such a good girl/boy over the year, maybe he will left a bundle of rods for warning.

The big christmas presents we get at the evening of December the 24th. They are brought by the "Christkind".
It´s tradition to lock the door of the room, where the christmas tree will be in, for a few days before. At the evening of the 24th, most time alittle bell is ringing, then you are allowed to come in and see the tree full of lights and decorations and and find you presents.

I love Christmas time!  :love:

I still feel like a child at this time.

Best wishes to all of you!
Daniela
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Sylvia on November 23, 2010, 09:58:33
Quote from: skypurr on November 23, 2010, 03:43:23
A very different modern twist to being sent to Spain if they are not good that we used was to tell them that the star - * button on the telephone was a snowflake and a direct link to Father Christmas if they were naughty  ;D

Quite ingenious! ;D
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: tonguello on November 23, 2010, 11:15:16
Quote from: skypurr on November 23, 2010, 03:43:23

A very different modern twist to being sent to Spain if they are not good that we used was to tell them that the star - * button on the telephone was a snowflake and a direct link to Father Christmas if they were naughty  ;D

Elaine (http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/mgqueen.gif)

 :lol: :lol: :lol:
I loved the modern twist!  :lol:
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: noodwachter72 on November 26, 2010, 08:11:52
mooi verhaal Gis mijn engels is niet goed genoeg voor zoiets mijn fotos van de sint staan op report and review

groet peter
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: tonguello on November 26, 2010, 10:29:25
Quote from: noodwachter72 on November 26, 2010, 08:11:52
mooi verhaal Gis mijn engels is niet goed genoeg voor zoiets mijn fotos van de sint staan op report and review

groet peter

eh?
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: bonniebeth on November 26, 2010, 16:59:13
 ???  :lol:
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: henry_martini on December 01, 2010, 07:26:22
Quote from: skypurr on November 23, 2010, 03:43:23
A very different modern twist to being sent to Spain if they are not good that we used was to tell them that the star - * button on the telephone was a snowflake and a direct link to Father Christmas if they were naughty  ;D

I can't wait to try this at home.  ;D
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Gis on December 20, 2010, 17:03:08
Because of time constraints we werent able to make the necesary photo's to finish this story.

My apologies to all. However I promise I will get back to this thread next year and finalize it!!!

Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: Skypurr Jr. on December 21, 2010, 17:16:10
Quote from: skypurr on November 23, 2010, 03:43:23

...but also since they were small my boys have always sprinkled 'magic reindeer food' outside just before they went to bed  (this is a mixture of oats and glitter) the idea being that the glitter will sparkle in the light from the moon and stars and so attract the reindeer who fly down to eat the oats, therefore bringing Father Christmas and their presents - It always worked  Laugh

A very different modern twist to being sent to Spain if they are not good that we used was to tell them that the star - * button on the telephone was a snowflake and a direct link to Father Christmas if they were naughty  ;D

WHAT?!?!!
So it doesn't link to Santa?
... I can't believe I fell for that......  :-[ :-[

The reindeer food still seems to work though!
 
:rudy: :rudy: Skypurr Jr.  <*)
 
Title: Re: The Story of the Ducth version of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
Post by: bonniebeth on December 21, 2010, 17:41:16
 :lol: