Your Initial In Chocolate Delft – Afgelopen zaterdag arriveerde Sinterklaas weer in ons land. Philippa, de gastdochter van Ad & Els, was met andere familieleden in Delft ter gelegenheid van mijn verjaardag. Ze kwam die dag enkele Zwarte Pieten tegen in de Prinsenstad. Ze kreeg van de zwarte knechten van de Goedheiligman een handvol pepernoten. Pieter Jan maakt er deze foto van. Special ten behoeve van de Engels sprekende vrienden en familieleden van Philippa leg ik het ook nog even uit in haar landstaal. About three weeks before the 5th of December, 'Sinterklaas' (Saint Nicholas) arrives in Holland on a steamboat from Spain. For a few exciting weeks, he rides across our rooftops on a white horse, accompanied by his helpers, a band of Zwarte Pieten. (Dark Helpers). Sinterklaas has kept notes in a big book all year round. Good children receive presents and naughty children get taken back to Spain in a gunnysack. Sinterklaas dresses in a red bishop's robe complete with mytre and pastoral staff, a seemingly genuine Catholic saint. Zwarte Piet wears a Moorish costume. Holland celebrates Sinterklaas on the 5th of December, which is the eve of St. Nicholas' death. Oddly enough, most people think we celebrate his birthday - the songs about Sinterklaas even say so - but that's probably because it sounds better for the children. Traditionally, adults and children give each other gifts with little rhymes to go with them. The poems usually point out the bad traits of the person receiving the gift. Surprise parcels are also a favourite and everyone receives his or her initial in chocolate.

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