We heard singing below our balcony today and could see Sinterklaas and his helpers coming along the canal to Leeuwarden on a boat and after he landed on the shore a carriage with two "black"horses were waiting for him. I wonder where his white horse went? (Friesland is actually well known for their beautiful black Friesian horses)
Every year Sinterklaas comes to the Netherlands from Spain on a boat, along with his trusted white horse and his Moorish helpers, ‘de Zwarte Pieten’ or ‘Black Petes’.
The Zwarte Pieten have with them a bag of presents and a ‘roe’ or a ‘whisk’ made of small twigs that is used to ‘punish’ bad children. The really naughty children are taken back to Spain in a large jute bag (the same bag that first contained all the presents).
In the Evening of the 5th of December the children leave their shoes by the fireplace with treats for Sinterklaas and his “Piets” and a carrot for his horse. That night Sinterklaas rides on his white horse over the rooftops and presents are delivered through the chimneys into the awaiting shoes of the children. If you find a lump of coal in your shoe you know that you have been bad.
The chocolate letter has become a must every Dec. Ours got half eaten by the time I was able to take a picture.
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