Sinterklaas 2012 Kudelstaart

Typical Dutch happening for little children: the arrival of Sinterklaas in Holland. The story of Sinterklaas is that he is an 200 years old man that lives in Spain. He comes to Holland every year in November. He has helpers called "Zwarte Pieten". They give "strooigoed" (special candy) and some of them do funny things. like climbing on the roofs of houses to bring presents through the chimney. The story is that they only do that to sweet children that sing special Sinterklaas-songs at the chimney just before they go to bed. After the singing they can put a shoe near the chimney and hopefully Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet bring something during the night. Those little presents are most of the time special Sinterklaas candy. Sometimes children get a winter carrot from their parents in order to put that in their shoe for the white horse of Sinterklaas. This period ends as Sinterklaas celebrates his birthday on the 5the of december. Many Dutch people celebrate his birthday by giving their little children or each other presents, most of the time with a special made poet and sometimes one present is wrapped up in a self made surprise.