Sinterklaas has left the Netherlands on his steamboat and is probably recuperating by his pool in Spain.
Now all the Christmas carols focus on another bearded, red-clad old guy. You might not want anything to do with this poster boy of American capitalism, but think again!
Santa Claus is not from the North Pole. He is actually a Dutchie.
The history of Santa Claus
Sinterklaas comes from Saint Nicholas, a Greek-Christian bishop who lived in the 4th century.
Nicholas lived in Myra, Lycia, in the area that is now Turkey. He is known as a patron saint for sailors and children, thanks to his generosity and gift-giving to the poor. 🎁
Historians believe that Dutch immigrants in the 17th century brought Sinterklaas festivities with them when they went to the “New World.”
It was there that Sinterklaas merged with the English figure of Father Christmas.
Father Christmas is a merry old man just like Sinterklaas, but instead of bearing gifts, he encourages adults to eat and drink (…like they need encouragement for that 👀).
READ MORE | A chocolate letter from Santa — the Sinterklaas way
Sinterklaas and Father Christmas slowly merged to become Santa Claus. You heard it here first! Santa Claus is the clandestine lovechild of Dutch and English colonialism.
The first mention of Santa Claus was on December 23, 1773, when an issue of the New York newspaper Rivington’s Gazette stated:
“Last Monday, the anniversary of St. Nicholas, otherwise called Santa Claus, was celebrated at Protestant Hall […]”
The popularity of Santa Claus was later enhanced by a satirical book written by Washington Irving in 1809, telling the world about the Dutch history of New York.
The differences between Sinterklaas & Santa
Throughout the years, Sinterklaas and Santa grew apart, and there are now some distinct differences between the two.
While Sinterklaas is a distinguished gentleman, the modern Santa Claus was forged by Thomas Nast’s cartoons and iconic 1930s Coca-Cola ads.
READ MORE | What happens during Christmas in the Netherlands? A guide to the winter holidays
Sinterklaas has a lean physique, while Santa has a massive beer belly.
Sinterklaas sails in a steamship, while Santa leans back in his sleigh.
Sinterklaas resides in Spain (there is no explanation for his winter outfit), while Santa lives in the North Pole.
While pop culture highlights many differences, here’s a final one: Sinterklaas is the lifelong bachelor, while Santa is home cuddling with Mrs Claus. 🎅
If you had to pick, would it be Sinterklaas or Santa Claus? Let us know in the comments below.
In Spain on Christmas time is quite cold my friend 🙂
well guys, it seems actually Santa is GREEK! No? I mean that’s what it says here…and was only usurped by the Dutch and then the Americans…WOW the politics of Xmas…. 😀
one major problem, he is a saint, saint nickolas, last time I checked the Dutch tend to be protestants
That being said the celebration would likely be carried on as unlike cromwell the republic didn’t seem to outright want to ban celebrations, (though protestantism did make Dutch cooking bland for most of it’s destinct history )(no frivolity without cause)
More than half (54 percent) of Dutch people aged 15 years and over do not consider themselves part of an ideological group. In 2019, 20 percent of the Dutch population belonged to the Catholic Church, 15 percent were Protestant, 5 percent Muslim and 6 percent belonged to another religious group. Religious involvement has continued to decline in recent years. In 2017, for the first time more than half of the Dutch population aged 15 years and over did not belong to a religious or ideological group.
Wrong. Google Yulefather.
https://www.google.se/amp/s/sonsofvikings.com/apps/fireamp/blogs/history/viking-origins-of-christmas-yule-traditions
Thanks for reminding me a bit about my Dutch heritage in the Vin DeVille clan.
I wished to keep Sinterklaas. I grew up in Holland, I have a Dutch family that still lives there, but I moved to the USA in ’89. I thought Sinterklaas was far more creative, with the poems added to the packages, and the packages wrapped into “other things” (surprises). But I hated the one where your gift was in a box, in a box, in a box, etc, with stroop (sticky syrup) preferably…
I will just say Odin. Then you can do the research l.