The Real St. Nicolaas

271 to 343 AD Archbishop of Myra Canonized by the

Roman Catholic Church in the 4th Century

Patron Saint of Sailors, Merchants, and Children

Later removed from the calendar of Saint days

The start of St. Nicolaas celebrations in The Netherlands

12th and 13th century, 23 St. Nicolaas churches build in The Netherlands.

14th century choir boys in St. Nicolaas churches receive money and the day off on December 6th. The day of St. Nicolaas death. Oldest record a 1360 receipt from Dordrecht.

Later rewards and punishments were handed out by a teacher dressed as St. Nicolaas at convent schools on December 5th.

Sint tells Jenneke and Rafael what is in his big red book

The legend mixes with other rituals

St. Nicolaas acquires a white horse. This is probably related to the Norse god Wodan, who rode a horse through the sky scattering gifts.

Although the real St. Nicolaas lived in Asia Minor, in Dutch folklore the Saint lives in Spain.

St. Nicolaas acquires a Moorish servant Piet. Based on Wodan’s black raven or a real servant (freed slave) named Pitre

The first book from 1850

The celebration for kids St. Nicolaas arrives

mid November. Shoes by the fire

place. St. Nicolaas visit the

school on December 5.

Presents at home on St. Nicolaas Eve (December 5)

Steamboat Arrival

Sint’s Arrival on TV

The Parade

Shoes by the

fire place

The celebration for big kids Cleverly wrapped

presents called “surprises” Bad habits Recent incidents Anything embarrassing

The poem Department store poets Books of words that

rhyme Internet sites

Vincent shows his father’s “surprise”

Tamara likes to keep her secrets save from her

family

Family Surprises

Short, long, and difficult

poems

Nasty wrappings

Interesting wrappings

Hidden Presents

Hats as Wrappings

A large mouse and a small mouse with a big cheese

Mousy Wrappings

and creativity are endless

Imagination

Thank You St. Nicolaas