Sinterklaas versus Santa Claus

Origins of the story

Sinterklaas: A man with serious credentials, Sint is thought to be the incarnation of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, who has been revered since the Middle Ages.

Santa Claus: A character risen from a mixed bag of Sinterklaas, Father Christmas and Saint Nicholas.  The anglicised Santa Claus made was born in the New World shortly after Dutch colonization of the Americas.

St Nicholas is the patron saint of children

Appearance

Sinterklaas: Dressed with a red gown with a white bishop’s alb and a red mitre emblazoned with a cross. His golden crosier with curl detail is inspired by the pastoral staff carried by high-ranking Church prelates.

Santa Claus: Round belly, comfort casual red two-piece with white trim and a thick black belt.

Sinterklaas: Keeps track of who’s well behaved via a large book of children’s names (“Het grote Sinterklaasboek” ) and deposits gifts in their shoes accordingly. In past times kids were told that naughty children were snatched in their sleep, tuffed into sacks and ‘disappeared’ to Spain.

Every night until December 5^th, children put their shoes near the chimney in the house, sing songs and leave behind food for Amerigo, now Ozosnel.  If they behaved good, Sinterklaas will pay a visit and surprise them with presents, “pepernoten” (special Sint spicy cookies) and chocolate letters with the intials S (Sint), P (Piet) or the one of the name of the family member in their shoes. The children never see Sinterklaas, as he is on the roof, together with Ozosnel and Piet. Piet is the one to go down the chimney to make sure the right present ends up in the right shoe. Since a couple of years the Pieten don’t have to climb down the chimney and get black and dirty as they have a special key to open doors.

On December 5^th, Sinterklaas visits many children in their house. The kids may then thank Sinterklaas and Piet, and get a lot of candy and more presents. On December 6^th, Sinterklaas returns to Spain.

Santa Claus: Santa would rather give you the benefit of the doubt and leave you a little something under the tree.

Festive treats from Sinterklaas