Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus

“Sinterklaas? Do you mean Santa Claus?” is our international clients’ most frequently asked question whenever we talk about this national holiday. Sinterklaas comes from Spain, is dressed in a red robe with white and gold accents, wears a mitre with a gold cross, and he rides a white horse. He has hundreds of Petes who help him buy, wrap and ship all the presents for all of the well-behaved kids. It is a national holiday that is celebrated on December 5th in the Netherlands and December 6th in Belgium.
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A bit about Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas lives in Madrid (Spain) and usually arrives in Holland by steam boat somewhere around mid-November. On this date, you will see (steam) boats arriving in almost every village, town or city in the Netherlands, carrying Sinterklaas and his friendly helpers. The local brass band will be there providing upbeat Sinterklaas music, and the mayor will officially welcome Sinterklaas to the country. Hundreds, or even thousands of kids will be there with their parents to watch the arrival of Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas’ helpers, called Petes, carry around gingerbread-like, small treats to give to the kids.

Special songs in front of the chimney for Sinterklaas

Between their arrival and December 6th, which is when they go back to Spain, kids put their shoes in front of the chimney right before they go to bed. They perform a traditional Sinterklaas song, leave a treat for his horse, Amerigo, and hope that the next day he will have left them a nice present. It is rumoured that the Petes enter these kids’ houses through the chimney, and walk around on the roofs. If you listen very carefully, you might just hear them. But mind you, he only leaves presents for those who have been good. If you’ve misbehaved, he will take you back to Spain in a burlap sack!

On December 5th, Sinterklaas celebrates his birthday. On this night (pakjesavond), families with young kids come together to play games and unwrap a whole bunch of presents that were left by Pete, usually on the porch or in the garage. Almost every kid believes that Sinterklaas leaves presents for those who have been good, and that he takes misbehaving kids back to Spain in a burlap sack. During the months of November and December, parents warn their children of these consequences.  Somewhere around the age of 8 or 9 you will discover that the entire country has been fooling you and that Sinterklaas doesn’t really exist. It was really you parents who were buying you all those wonderful presents.

In short, an overview of the difference between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus:

  1. Santa Claus lives on the North Pole. Sinterklaas lives in Spain.
  2. Sinterklaas rides a white horse called Amerigo. Santa Claus rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
  3. Santa Claus delivers presents on the night of December 24th.
  4. Sinterklaas arrives mid November, for three weeks he and his helpers deliver small presents and on the 5th of December, his birthday, he delivers a whole bunch of presents, after which he returns home.
  5. Santa Claus dresses in red with a white trim. Sinterklaas wears red with a golden trim and carries a ceremonials, golden staff.
  6. Santa Claus’ little helpers are elves, Sinterklaas’ helpers are Petes.
  7. Santa Claus flies to his destination. Sinterklaas arrives by steam boat.
  8. Santa Claus puts presents for children under a Christmas tree. Sinterklaas puts presents in childrens’ shoes.
  9. Sinterklaas tells Black Pete to put naughty kids in a burlap sack and take them back to Spain.

Just like many other nations, we also celebrate Christmas and the arrival of Santa Claus.

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