A Dutch Tradition: Sinterklaas
As you may know, I’m Dutch, and in the Netherlands, we have a tradition similar to what happens around Christmas with Santa Claus. In the Netherlands, we celebrate Sinterklaas, the patron saint of children and bishop of Myra, who, according to legend, comes to our country with his helpers to give gifts to children on the evening before his birthday, December 6.
Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands a few weeks before his birthday on a steamship. Like Santa, he has a distinctive appearance, rides a white horse, and with the help of his companions, the Pieten, climbs rooftops at night to deliver gifts down the chimneys into children’s shoes.
Songs, Shoes, and Modern Adaptations
There are countless songs sung during the Sinterklaas season. Over time, the story has been adapted since many homes in the Netherlands no longer have chimneys. This led to creative explanations about how gifts magically end up in children’s shoes.
Despite loving the holiday, I found the Sinterklaas season challenging as a kindergarten teacher. Many children experienced stress during this time. Nearly every Sinterklaas song emphasizes that only “good” children would receive treats, while the saint supposedly saw, knew, and recorded everything in his big red book.
The Pressure of Being “Good Enough”
This created tension for children who may have done something “naughty.” After all, what child never misbehaves? Worse still, children who were allowed to leave their shoes out less frequently—due to their parents’ preferences or financial limitations—sometimes believed they weren’t “good enough” because their classmates received more gifts.
Some parents or grandparents even used Sinterklaas as a tool for discipline: “If you don’t behave, I’ll tell Sinterklaas!” As a teacher, I had to navigate all these differences and saw the stress levels rise. I knew there had to be a better way.
A Puppet to the Rescue
That’s when I came up with a story involving my puppet, who had “befriended” Sinterklaas. This friendship was supported by photos and a believable tale. My puppet had a direct line to Sinterklaas, knew things that neither children nor adults did, and could call or visit him to answer children’s questions.
This idea eventually grew into what I called “The Best Sinterklaas Adventure Ever”—a workshop I offered to Dutch teachers and childcare workers for years. In it, the puppet collaborated with Sinterklaas, engaging children in fun and educational activities while easing their worries.
A New Chapter: Exploring Santa Claus
Yesterday was the big day: December 5, Sinterklaas Eve. My puppet JaNee ended the season in style as Sinterklaas’s assistant (see the video below).
During my time in the Netherlands, Santa Claus wasn’t as prominent as he is now. However, since my circumstances have changed and I no longer live in the Netherlands, I think it’s time to dive into the Santa tradition this year. I’ll explore how to use a puppet to reduce children’s Santa-related stress—just as I did with Sinterklaas.
Stay tuned for updates and till the next blog!
Helen
