What are some Holland Christmas traditions?

Answer 1

Christmas is celebrated differently in the Netherlands but the traditions differ from region to region. Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) is the equivalent to Santa Claus but his appearance is slightly different. Sinterklaas is tall, slender wears a long red robe, is elderly, has a long white beard and wears a hat similar to the bishops. December the 5th (Sinterklaas Avond) is said to be the eve of Sinterklaas birthday where he travel's around to each child's house giving gifts. Sinterklaas is believed to live in Spain with his helpers they are called Black Peters (Zwarte Piet). Black Peters are often portrayed to have a soot covered face, as they have to ride around on a mule. Sinterklaas spends his time in Spain writing in his small red book which children are good and bad while the black Peter's make all of the presents. Sinterklaas Avond celebrations actually start a few weeks before December the 6th (Saint Nicholas Day) as he arrives on a steamship to start the holiday season. Many of the major ports like Amsterdam hold celebrations and give out gifts to young children. Christmas day is still celebrated (December 25th) but most gifts are given on Sinterklaas Avond. On Sinterklaas Avond children leave out cookies and milk for Sinterklaas and they leave carrots and celery for the reindeers in their shoes, in the morning (December the 6th) the food in the shoes for the reindeers are replaced by presents. This tradition is similar to the western tradition of hanging a stocking up over a fireplace. Food is very important on the 6th and 25th of December as it is a traditional part of celebrating. Lavish Christmas feasts consist of roast goose, roast pork, vegetables, eggnog ,mulled drink ,homemade breads, boiled chestnuts, fruit, cookies and an almond paste bread (kerststol) similar to marzipan. Every Saint Nicholas day each family bakes a cake shaped like the letter of each person in the families' first name; these cakes are called (letterbanket). In some Eastern parts of Holland a large horn made from hollow elder-tree branches is blown to announce the coming of Christmas from the first Sunday of Advent (which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas) till Christmas Eve. This tradition is usually carried out by farmer families and created a great eerie echo as all the farm families in the area do this. The horns are blown at sunset and over water wells to amplify the sound even more.

Answer 2

The holiday is not "Xmas", it is called Christmas. There are Christmas symbols in the Netherlands because they celebrate Christmas, too.