While the beginning of December is a joyful time during which we look forward to a sea or Bushveld holiday and the little ones’ wishing lists for Christmas, this time of the year also includes deep longing and nostalgia. With Christmas, we always think of the children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters who celebrate on their own on the other side of the world. This week we talked to Melani Young to find out how they celebrate Christmas in the Netherlands.

1.    Are there any interesting Christmas customs and traditions?

At the start of our first Christmas season in the Netherlands, I was so confused with all the strange traditions and Saints, I didn’t know which Saint to sing to, look for, or welcome. I still find some of the finer details baffling. It is a mouthful, but I will share some of what happens in the Netherlands from November with you.

The festive season starts with St. Maarten’s Day on 11 November. Children walk from door to door from early on in the evenings with lanterns (which they make themselves), singing fun St. Maarten’s Day songs in exchange for treats and/or a “mandarijn”. It is very festive – the neighbourhoods are filled with singing children carrying bags full of treats. 

The first Saturday after 11 November is the day on which Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas or Santa Claus) arrives in the Netherlands on his boat from Spain, with his white horse Ozosnel and all his helpers (all named Peter). Everybody anxiously awaits the arrival of Sinterklaas who throws treats from his boat to the people cheering on the shore. Children can also follow the adventures of Sinterklaas and his helpers on the TV every night. The different helpers always provide great entertainment, such as Naughty Peter who messes up classrooms and Choco Peter, who makes chocolate letters and leaves it in children’s shoes. Starting from the day Sinterklaas arrives until “Pakjesavond” on 5 December, children leave a carrot in a shoe for Ozosnel and if they are lucky, they find a small gift or a chocolate letter in their shoe.

5 December is “Pakjesavond”, the evening before Sinterklaas’s birthday. “Pakjesavond” is lots of fun and the day on which gifts are shared. Traditionally Christmas trees will only be put up and decorated after “Pakjesavond”.  

2.   Do you prefer traditional foods and festivities or have you found new ways of celebrating Christmas?

Christmas Day is a family day, as is 26 December. Families eat together, but unfortunately you will not find gammon, leg of lamb and roast potatoes on the menu. “Gourmetten” is very popular as a Christmas meal. It consists of a variety of outlandish food items that are cooked in a small pan on something that resembles a “raclette” plate. It is a very social and jovial event around the table, as the Dutch say – “echt gezellig”.

During the long festive season there are many beautiful and festive “oliebollenkraampjes”. These “oliebollen” are like donuts in the shape of a tennis ball covered with a generous sprinkling of icing sugar, which immediately settles on your hips upon eating. Thankfully this kilojoule-laden treat is only available during two months of the year. “Oliebollen” is also a great substitute for South African vetkoek and curry mince.

When it comes to our own Christmas meal, we still prefer gammon, leg of lamb and roast potatoes over the small portions of food in small pans.

It is a wonderful time of year in the Netherlands and one cannot help but to get drawn into the festivities and their beautiful old traditions.   

3.   Are there any other interesting traditions in the Netherlands?

The Dutch make a lot of effort to decorate their houses with lights. With the sun setting at 17:00, it is a feast for the eyes to walk through the neighbourhood early in the evening or to jump on a tram and go watch the lights in Amsterdam. Last year it took us a while to catch our breath with all the Saints that descended on us, but this year I was prepared and our house looks like a lit-up Christmas tree!

Although our sons are too old for the Dutch November traditions, they quickly decided they were not too old for “Pakjesavond”. So we now share presents on “Pakjesavond” as well as on Christmas Eve (the boys cannot believe their luck).