The Tale of Sinterklaas

Did you know that Santa Claus is not the original Saint Nick?  Nope, he's not.  The Dutch Sinterklaas beat him to it.  In fact, it was the Dutch who brought the tale of Santa Claus to the US (as Sinterklaas which was then modified over time) back when New York City was New Amsterdam. And get this, everyone celebrates him, no matter what their religion.  He is a patron saint of children - it does not matter what their belief system is, he gives to all.

Both Santa Claus and Sinterklaas are based off Nikolaos of Myra, a Greek bishop known for secret gift giving.  He became Saint Nicholas around the 4th century.  Like our American Santa Claus, Sinterklaas is all about the children and giving gifts to those who have been very good.  But this is where the similarities end.

First off, he arrives via steamboat from, get this, Spain.  Yes, Spain.  How ironic given we've just arrived from Spain ourselves.  A sign perhaps?  And once he arrives by water, he gets on his white horse, Amerigo, to go from home to home giving gifts to the children.  The gifts don't go under a Christmas tree, after all, he gives the gifts weeks before Christmas on December 5th!  No, they go in the children's shoes that are left by the fireplace.

It's not Sinterklaas that goes down the chimney either.  It's one of his Zwarte Piets that go down.  More on him soon as he's pretty controversial these days and I don't want to miss out on giving you the details about that.  Anyways, Zwarte Piet goes down the chimney to deliver the gifts to all the good girls and boys.  Hopefully the children have left carrots in their shoes for Amerigo!

Sinterklaas arrives by boat sometime around November 15th to a city designated each year.  This year it was Gouda and it is televised around the country.  After his initial arrival, he will then visit each town and city in the Netherlands (via boat and horse) on different dates.  Our date here in Naarden is Saturday, November 22.  This marks the start of the festivities and children receive small (usually food) gifts each day like pepernoten, speculaas or a chocolate letter (the child's first initial) until December 5th which is Sinterklaas' birthday and that is when they receive the majority of their presents.  The sack is left at the front door of each child's home with presents in it.  It is also tradition that Sinterklaas leaves a funny poem about the recipient of the gifts.

As this is a holiday to celebrate children, I want to touch upon the Zwarte Piet controversy but I don't want to linger upon it.  And while I'm of the opinion that I can see the racism in this celebration, I can also see tradition and how much the Dutch embrace their beloved Piet.  It seems to be that outsiders, like ourselves, are the ones that are offended by the blackfaced character and how he is perceived.  I think that this is where we as the outsiders go wrong - there is perception and there is intent.  This festival for children is meant to be innocent and not intended to be hurtful in any way.  Interestingly both of my children are in agreement and have said that they will not dress up as Zwarte Piet (many children often dress up) and find him to be offensive.  According to some news I have read online recently while researching this entry, the majority of Dutch people do not see Zwarte Piet as a racist issue and that he is just the helper of Sinterklaas and that it is a childhood tradition - is this ignorance or just people trying to hold tight to a tradition that they feel too many are trying to take away?  Some say his skin color comes from being a Moor that Sinterklaas rescued and others say it is the soot from the chimneys that he goes down to deliver presents to the children.  Regardless of his origin, this has become a hot button subject and also has caused a few arrests during the most recent Sinterklaas celebrations over the last week.

So back to Sinterklaas, we had not one but two outings this weekend where we get to meet the "real" St. Nick.  First off was down to The Hague to Josh's manufacturing plant (which was very cool to see) where they put on a puppet show for the kids as well as a visit from Sinterklaas and two Zwarte Pieten. I learned a few things here that I feel I need to share:

1.  As an American it's hard to not see the Zwarte Piet character in a racist viewpoint.  However, watching the local children and how they sang songs with him, embracing these traditions and seeing him through innocent eyes, put a different perspective on him for me.  I want to be offended by the blackfaces painted on the children but when you see the happiness and joy on their faces because they look just like Zwarte Piet, you see that it's not about skin color but about being just like a character that they, and generations before, adore.  Many were even dressed in medieval costumes just like Piet.

2.  While we couldn't understand a word of what was happening, it was easy enough to understand that Sinterklaas is a funny guy.  The kids loved him.  And the Pieten.  From what I've read, Sinterklaas has become known as a bit of an absentminded kind of guy and Piet has become more of his assistant, helping him out and I could definitely see that even though we could not understand the words that were spoken.  I could also see how enraptured the children all were.

3.  This one was a big one and a party foul on our part.  Aidan's gift happened to be first and so we let him unwrap it.  Only to find out that all the little children, down to just one or two years old, waited patiently before unwrapping the gifts until Sinterklaas gave the ok and then all tore open their presents at once.  Thankfully Liam's was the last gift and we were able to give him eye signals to wait until the others opened theirs before he opened his.  I have to say, I have never seen so many children be able to wait so patiently to unwrap a present - that is some willpower!!

4.  While I think this type of event would not be acceptable in many places, I think you truly have to experience it in order to understand the culture and history behind it before judging.

Arriving at the Albumprinter plant

Liam watching the puppet show

Zwarte Piet in the puppet show

Sinterklaas arrives

As do the Zwarte Pieten

A video of a traditional Sinterklaas song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKZ5vp1hSg&feature=youtu.be

A child in blackface - something you would never see at home but it is the norm and tradition here

Kids singing - Liam wants nothing to do with it

Present time... this one is Aidan's, the only non brown paper one in the group (had I known!)

An attempt at a group picture

Waiting to get presents

Aidan with his present - he already didn't believe but then Sinterklaas butchered saying his name and he believed even less because Sinterklaas should know everyone's name, right?  Except Aidan's name isn't Dutch...

Liam with his present

The kids singing a song before opening the presents:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoFCENI4VEs&feature=youtu.be

Legos!!

Liam and Sinterklaas

We returned home from the Hague mid day and just relaxed til our next big event - Sinterklaas was coming to Naarden Vesting.  As I mentioned above, it's traditional for Sinterklaas to arrive by boat from Spain.  That is no different here in Naarden.  Every town has it's own celebration - after all, there are no towns here that don't have some waterway for him to arrive by.  Ours was in the Vesting, our center of town.  We arrived around 4PM, about an hour before the festivities were beginning.  In the US we are not as it was practically empty.  However, we did score spots right across from where Sinterklaas gets off his boat and were in the front row (of what later ended up about 7 or 8 people deep).  Eventually it got pretty crowded and space was at a premium - between Aidan and the kid next to me, I was being stepped on or elbowed every 3 seconds.  I think we were all ready for Sinterklaas to arrive!

But because we were so early, it took some time, about an hour and a half after our arrival.  The kids were pretty antsy to say the least.  But we had some fun distractions with amazing jump ropers (not sure what they have to do with Sinterklaas but was still cool to watch) and then a local marching band.  We had the occasional visit from Zwarte Piet as well - I think just to whet our appetite to get ready for the big guy.

Walking into the Vesting... how cool is Liam's Angry Birds hat that I got him in Madrid?

There were signs all over town welcoming Zwarte Piet

Het Arsenal where Sinterklaas will arrive

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

Where the man of the hour will sit, right across the canal from where we were standing

Turns out he will actually come from this direction

Some kids dressed up as Sinterklaas and as Zwarte Piet

As I mentioned, part of the festivities was jump ropers.  I'm not really sure what they had to do with Sinterklaas but it was incredibly entertaining.  All I could think of was those damned double unders from crossfit that I could never do - these guys made it all look like a piece of cake!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z19YLB3QfE8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd6fYGNs1mw

Sun setting

Bored out of his Angry Birds head... that is Aidan's foot right next to his head and yes, he did kick him shortly after this picture

We had a teaser of Zwarte Piet and thought the time had come but alas, it was only that, a teaser!

Zwarte Piet - here is the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAvaUxC3odc - I'm not sure if I'm the only one who sees the irony of the man dressed in medieval costume riding a Sea Doo?

All excited thinking this was the start but actually some people who had the privilege of getting to come down the canal before Piet and Sinterklaas

The canal all lit up

The marching band playing

And the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8GP8oYUVA0

Finally the moment came - first it was the Zwarte Pieten that came on several boats, doing their water acrobatics in a sense, getting the crowd warmed up.  Then Sinterklaas arrived by steamboat as promised.  The boys, who were so done by then, suddenly got their second wind and were excited by Sinterklaas' arrival.

Some of the Zwarte Pieten arrive

And the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRBp-kuKa6Y

I really don't understand how this boat could stay afloat with all these people on it!

Lots of Zwarte Pieten helpers!

Finally here he is!!  The video is long but you'll hear all the kids (except ours since they don't know the songs) screaming out the tunes to welcome Sinterklaas to Naarden!  While I know it's long, it's worth watching to see how they lead up to Sinterklaas' arrival on the steamboat.  And yes, he arrives in our little village by steamboat called the Espanje III (Spain 3).   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HoedYw-7JU  The Pieten throw treats into the crowds - both Aidan and Liam managed to catch some!

Here he comes!

There he is!

No flying reindeer for this guy!

Sitting on his throne

All the boats lined up

However, minutes later they were done.  We'd been there over 2 hours and they were done.  What we didn't realize was that after the "ceremony" with Sinterklaas that there is a parade which ends with Sinterklaas riding his horse, Amerigo.  Liam and I saw him riding but my picture came out blurry.  We went to walk around the Vesting to see all the lights (it was pretty but nothing spectacular) and found crowds upon crowds of people for the parade.

The boys walking along the parade route

Streets lit up very simple but elegant which fits the simple but elegant homes

The face

The church behind one of the homes

Another "face"

The Marktstraat - market street with the church in the background

Eventually we made our way back to the car and headed for home.  It was a fun night and a new tradition to learn about.  So tonight the boys will put their shoes by the fireplace and who knows what magic will happen... here is to a new country and new traditions.

The edges of the Vesting lit by candles as we were leaving

The Vesting as we were leaving

Besos,
Julie

The Moment After

It couldn't have been even an hour after I posted about our wonderful Christmas when Aidan dropped the bomb. "Mom, I know you bought the presents."  To which I responded, "of course I didn't honey". Then he got me. "Mom, they were in the shower in your office bathroom."  Fail.  How do you respond to that?

Well not very well. Deny. Deny. Deny. Then switch the topic. But the fact us, it's time to come clean. I'm in no way ready for this but obviously he is. All those moments of his childhood where I wish I could have done more, played more, laughed more and created more magic for him. This is the culminating moment where I have to tell him the truth. Despite my wishes, my little boy is growing up. How could this tiny, defenseless baby have gone from this

Aidan - May 2004

 to this?

Aidan - September 2013

So while he went to bed without any new insight into the why, I ponder how I'm going to deal with this next chapter in our lives. It probably seems like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill here, but I think any parent with young children can relate to the moment when you realize your baby is no longer a baby. It's not a pretty moment. And I tear up a little just writing this. Once we have this talk, we can't go back. Santa will no longer be "real". 

When I was facing this "problem" a few weeks ago, a good friend sent me an article -  http://letslassothemoon.com/2013/12/16/5-tips/.   I have to say that her timing was perfect and my plan with Aidan is something along the lines that the blog suggests. I want him to feel that he is a part of a special club; that I wasn't lying just to lie but that this is a special secret that we must keep and protect and now he can be a part of this exclusive club. Because while Santa himself may not be real, Saint Nicolas was and it's in his spirit as to why we give gifts at Christmas and out of which the tale of Santa Claus was born.

Fast forward to today.  I debated on whether to tell him or not.  I figured I would just let it go unless he brought it up.  After all, why spoil things if he's not itching to know but is just questioning and trying to figure it out for himself without necessarily really wanting to know the truth.

But he brought it up... again.  This time mentioning the letter from Santa that he left with the half empty plates.  He said it was definitely Josh's handwriting (ha, it was mine!) and Santa did not leave him that letter.  He also said that I was the one that filled the stockings.  So is he just digging in the hopes of me telling him?  Well, I decided to own up.

I brought Aidan up to my room and sat him down.  While it might sound silly, I tried to explain it to him on his terms.  I asked him if he remembered watching Fred Claus this holiday season.  And while we don't know if Saint Nicholas had a brother named Fred, the beginning premise was true - that Nicholas was born hundreds of years ago (in the 4th century actually) and that he became a saint in part because of how he gave to others - and all of this, yes, was covered in the movie.  Again, trying to get on his level for him to understand the concept.  I told him that Saint Nicholas eventually evolved into Santa Claus and that we were so lucky because we get to continue on his traditions.

This is when he told me I was a liar and I had been lying to him for 9 years.  Hmmm... this is not going as I had planned.  I told him that it was like being a part of a secret club getting to carry on Saint Nicholas' traditions from year to year and that now he, too, could be a part of that.  And that he can help to make it special for Liam and other kids in coming years.  He wanted no part in that.

I could see his struggles with this information.  I asked him if he was upset and he said he was because he still had believed a little bit.  So I asked him why he kept on accusing me of being Santa and kept telling me things about finding the gifts, etc - that if he still believed, why did he keep questioning whether he was real?  He didn't have an answer.  And I told him that I didn't want to lie to him - that it's one thing to believe in the magic of Christmas but another to lie when he asks a point blank question or tells me that he found all the presents.  I don't think either of us have "won" in this situation.

Josh, of course, who was downstairs with Liam (he never seems to be there for these big serious conversations like the sex one either... lucky him!), said well what did you expect, you told him too soon!!  Um, hello, if you felt that, why didn't you stop me???  So now I've spoiled Christmas and Santa for Aidan.  He seems like he has moved on and is currently playing his wii u.  But what's going thru his mind as he's playing?  Is he angry?  Sad?  Betrayed?  Or is he totally fine with this current turn of events.

The good news is that we've got another 365 days until next Christmas to convince him that this time of year is magical.  And that we want to make it special for others no matter whether Santa is real or not. And that he can still be real in our hearts.

Besos,
Julie

Christmas in Barcelona 2013

I admit I was a bit nervous about how Christmas would go this year given Aidan's accidental revealing of our big gift to him and Liam (a wii u).  As I mentioned in a recent post, he's been unsure about his belief in Santa and I haven't been ready to let go of the magic of Christmas with him yet.  It doesn't help being away from friends and family this time of year - the traditions we have at home are sometimes hard to recreate 4000 miles away in a foreign country.  And with it being just the four of us, it's usually a pretty quiet Christmas - something we've come to enjoy and yet at the same time, we really miss the normal chaos of visiting with friends and family on Christmas day.

Every year I find it harder and harder to not reveal gifts before the big day and I have to give myself a pat on the back this year.  With the exception of the wii u that the boys found, I managed to keep everything hidden up til the big reveal this morning.  Aidan did almost catch us on Christmas Eve as we had assumed he was asleep when in fact he wasn't.  

Speaking of Christmas Eve, it was a great one.  We started off the day with their caga tios.  Aidan was in to it at first but then when I googled the song and it was only in Catalan and not in English (hello, it's a Catalan tradition Aidan!), he started to freak out a bit.  So that didn't go too smoothly.  But both were happy with their little gifts from the caga tio - these little electronic fish that are supposed to look real. They immediately jumped in the tub so they could play with them - at least it was an excuse to get them cleaned up for Christmas!!

Caga tios waiting to be beaten so they will poop presents for them!

Liam beating his caga tio ... Aidan stomped off at this point

Aidan is back but as you can see, not too thrilled about it...

But both were happy with their little gifts the caga tio pooped!

The boys begged and pleaded for their wii u and we gave in.  After all, it had been under the tree taunting them since December 1.  Just because they found it early doesn't mean they were going to get it early!  But it was good that we unwrapped it on Christmas Eve as it was several hours of charging, setting up the internet, etc etc to get everything ready.  I can't even imagine what that would have been like today along with all the other presents. They each got to open one game which ended up being Marvel Super Heroes and Super Mario Brothers U.  HUGE hits in this house.  HUGE!

Finally!!!  We've been waiting since Thanksgiving for this present!!!!!

Opening a game

You are the best parents EVER!!!!

We don't have traditions around opening gifts on Christmas Eve but it seemed this year we started one. Josh also had me open a gift early.  I should also note that he got me an iphone 5 that he gave me a few weeks ago - mainly because he couldn't take listening to me complain about the non working home button on my iphone 4 any more!  But I also opened my other big gift early - on Christmas Eve.  It was a brand new, amazing, fancy digital camera.  Now I'm a point and shoot kind of girl and my pictures normally come out decent.  But my old Sony (old being from last Christmas, sad, I know) wasn't taking very good pictures any more with most coming out blurry.  So it was time for a new one and this time he stepped it up a bit - I hope I can step it up to given how nice this camera is!

Liam helping me unwrap the present and looking surprised at what I got (I knew he was making this face so was trying to do the same - I actually knew what was in the box, just not what type of camera)

This new camera isn't just a point and shoot (though it functions as that too) but once I learn how to use it (ie, once I read thru the 400 page book Josh also got me to go with it), I can add on different lenses and flashes, making it an even better camera.  I look forward to the new better quality pictures that I'll be taking in the future!  I got the camera early since Josh knew I'd want to take pictures on Christmas morning and while I'm still not there with taking the best quality, I can already see a difference from my last camera.

Josh also got to open a gift.  It was a fun gift as I saved his more "serious" gifts for Christmas day.  His gift was a light saber umbrella.  Now, in my defense I thought that the lightsaber actually lit up, so I was pretty disappointed when I saw that it doesn't, but he says he loves it nonetheless.  I hope so!!

Liam helped us unwrap all our gifts as you can see...

Look, it's a lightsaber (Darth Vader's) umbrella!  Perfect for the rainy weather in Amsterdam!  

Notice Aidan in the background on the wii u game pad - can't lift his eyes up for a moment, he's so entranced!!

But Christmas Eve isn't just about opening some gifts, but also about getting ready for Santa.  Aidan's friend Nicolau came over and we all made Christmas cookies to leave for Santa and some food for the reindeer too!  The kids were anxious to get back to playing the wii u, but I have to give them credit for having more patience for this than in previous years.

Liam really just wanted to eat the dough but he did make a few cookies along the way too!

Cutting out the cookies

And now decorating!

After dinner we spread out the reindeer food on the downstairs patio.  Now, let me just say that I didn't want to do it downstairs because I was afraid that if the kids went down there this morning and saw the oats were still there, they would be upset.  Last year we did it up on the roof, but Aidan insisted on downstairs.  So downstairs it was.  And yup, he was upset earlier today when he went to try out his new skateboard and realized that the oats were still there - adding another doubt to his ambivalence regarding Santa's existence.

Making reindeer food

Adding as much glitter as humanly possible.  

I may continue to find glitter on the floor for years to come...

On the downstairs patio - believe it or not, it's nighttime - that's just how bright the new camera made it look.  I love it already!

Throwing the food for the reindeer to find

We read our traditional classic version of the Night Before Christmas and then off the children went to be nestled in their beds.  Ahhh too easy.  Like I said, Josh and I almost got caught when at 9:30 we went to bring the presents up.  Aidan had to have heard us as he started to come down the stairs at 10 but we blocked him.  Josh and I weren't exactly the quietest when putting the presents under the tree. And Aidan was still awake when Josh and I went to bed.  As long as he didn't go downstairs, that was fine with me.

Ready to go for the morning!

They made it this morning til after 6:30 - not too bad considering Aidan was in our room at 2AM last year.  Liam actually came in our room at 6 but must have forgotten it was Christmas because he just snuggled in and went right back to bed.  It was Aidan who came in at 6:30 announcing that Santa had come.  We made them stick around and snuggle til 7 and then allowed them to go downstairs (but wait for us before you open anything!).

They were very excited about pretty much everything.  There wasn't anything under the tree that they went, eh... That alone was a relief for us.  You never know with these kids!  Aidan did say he wished he had received more toys only I told him all he asked for were video games and legos and that's mostly what he got.  I reminded him that he has several gift cards from family that he can use to buy more toys if that is what he wants.  But overall, I think it was a huge success for both.  Liam kept saying "thank you santa, thank you!"  It was adorable!!

Playing the wii u before they even start to open gifts

Liam was very excited for his new big kid skateboard (no more mini little skateboard for this kid)

More wii u

And more wii u... I think this one was the winner this year

Trying out his new skateboard (on the marble, good idea)...and getting ready to start opening gifts

And away they go!!!

Lego TMNT and Disney Infinity character

Power Ranger giant thing (he was excited)

A wii u pro controller

Lego City! Unbeknownst to him, I actually got this for him last year but held off because I figured they had enough gifts under the tree... so freebie for me this year as it was already in the closet :)

Liam got several costumes including Indiana Jones

More Disney Infinity

Soooo excited and wanted to pose with each present

"Keep Calm, I am the Doctor" mug... he also got a Star Wars shirt that says, "Come to the Dark Side... We have Bacon".  I think it's actually Liam's favorite gift as he kept coming over to Josh all day and pointing it out...

Doing a happy dance

Josh's new Tumi bag

How to Train Your Dragon

A comic on the back of the journal he got... 

he also got a stylus to use with his ipad so he can draw on there...

Liam watching Aidan open a gift.... what is it??

More clothes???  Oh the drama!!  And these aren't even for me, they are for dad!!

Trying to act all gangsta...

Skylander Swap Force guide to the characters

And yup, more wii u... they are actually still playing as I type this entry (it's now 7PM)...

Big winners this year - well, the wii u, of course.  And all the games to go with it which included the much begged for Skylanders SwapForce and some characters to go with it.  A number of Lego sets which included Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lego City Police.  The camera for myself, of course :)  And Josh got a new "Indiana Jones" bag - ie, a new messenger bag, though this one is a step up from the J.Crew one I got him a few years back... it's a nice Tumi one.  I think, I hope, he likes it!  

Our Christmas day has been mellow.  Gifts were opened within an hour and the kids immediately started to play the wii u with the new games they opened today.  I proceeded to put together not one, not two, but three lego sets (thank you for the help boys!) and supposedly will be putting together yet another before we head to bed tonight (and tomorrow the BIG Lego Police set which I'm going to suspect is at least a 9 bagger).  Josh made German potato pancakes for brunch and is making a rib roast now for dinner - it smells delish!

Our delicious potato pancakes!!  

It's been a great Christmas overall.  Everyone getting along.  Calls home.  Great gifts, great time with family and an overall mellow low key day spending time together with no pressure of work or of life, just relaxing.  Just the way I like it.  I miss our families and our friends today but thankfully Facebook and the phone are keeping us in touch and maybe, just maybe, next year we'll be there to celebrate with you!  

So from all of us over here in Barcelona to all our friends and family here and at home - Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas and Happy Wednesday :)  

Besos,

Julie