Uiteraard de standaard show-foto met Cilly Dartell en Sint zelf :)
9:53:31 AM
Today is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands. Although the country celebrates Christmas and giftgiving on the 25th, this tradition looks similar, but has a totally different background.
Sinterklaas was indeed a real guy: St. Nikolaus and he really was a bishop and he became famous as an infant because he allegedly stopped drinking his mothers breast milk when it was time to fast....
The story goes that when he was a bishop he once saved three young women from their dismal life of prostitution by tossing gold coins through their window, which landed in their shoes.
Today the tradition of children placing their (wooden) shoes by the window to receive treats and gifts is clearly related to the legend. Not quite sure about the White horse, the headquarters in Spain or the politically incorrect 'Black Piets" that are his helpers.
And in 2003 we've even got a rap video for SInt.
9:48:54 AM
