Advent Calendar 7th December 2007
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Advent
meaning 'the coming', is a month full of expectation,
anticipation and preparation for Yule/ winter solstice and Christmas
- enjoy opening our online advent calendar every day until Dec 24th Advent
calendar |
| Sinterklaas is
part of Dutch folklore. He is also the historical
figure behind Santa Claus, with the name being a degeneration
of the Dutch word 'Sinterklaas'. By today many children in parts of Europe will have already received presents from Sinterklaas. On the 6th of December Sinterklaas or Saint-Nicholas is celebrated in Belgium and other parts of North Europe. He is known as 'Nikolaus' in Germany. In the Netherlands the children put their shoes by the chimney or stove the evening before, to receive special gifts from St. Nicholas. Often the shoe contains an apple or carrot or some hay for St. Nicholas' white horse, Amerigo, and the next morning they will find a present. A Sinterklaas gift is often sweets, such as the first letter of the child's name in chocolate, a chocolate Sinterklaas or chocolate coins. Sinterklaas has a big book with all the children's names in it, and states whether they have been good in the past year and whether they deserve presents. If they have been naughty Sinterklaas may leave charcoal in their shoe instead. |
