The Real St. Nicolaas ;271 to 343 AD ;Archbishop of Myra ;Canonized by the Roman Catholic Church in the 4 th Century ;Patron Saint of Sailors, Merchants, and Children ;Later removed from the calendar of Saint days

The start of St. Nicolaas celebrations in The Netherlands ;12 th and 13 th century, 23 St. Nicolaas churches build in The Netherlands. ;14 th century choir boys in St. Nicolaas churches receive money and the day off on December 6 th. The day of St. Nicolaas death. Oldest record a 1360 receipt from Dordrecht. ;Later rewards and punishments were handed out by a teacher dressed as St. Nicolaas at convent schools on December 5 th. Sint tells Jenneke and Rafael what is in his big red book

The legend mixes with other rituals ;St. Nicolaas acquires a white horse. This is probably related to the Norse god Wodan, who rode a horse through the sky scattering gifts. ;Although the real St. Nicolaas lived in Asia Minor, in Dutch folklore the Saint lives in Spain. ;St. Nicolaas acquires a Moorish servant Piet. Based on Wodan’s black raven or a real servant (freed slave) named Pitre The first book from 1850

The celebration for kids ;St. Nicolaas arrives mid November. ;Shoes by the fire place. ;St. Nicolaas visit the school on December 5. ;Presents at home on St. Nicolaas Eve (December 5)

Steamboat Arrival

Sint’s Arrival on TV

The Parade

Shoes by the fire place

The celebration for big kids ;Cleverly wrapped presents called “surprises” ;Bad habits ;Recent incidents ;Anything embarrassing ;The poem ;Department store poets ;Books of words that rhyme ;Internet sites

Vincent shows his father’s “surprise” Tamara likes to keep her secrets save from her family Family Surprises

Short, long, and difficult poems

Nasty wrappings

Interesting wrappings

Hidden Presents

Hats as Wrappings

A large mouse and a small mouse with a big cheese Mousy Wrappings

and creativity are endless Imagination

Thank You St. Nicolaas