De magie van Sinterklaas Kapoentje!

When I think about Sinterklaas, the first thing that comes to mind is the delicious aroma of freshly baked speculaas cookies, knik knik, tangerines and a lot of chocolate. But the most incredible things is the look of eagerness and happiness of all the children in Belgium, but what is Sinterklaas? Where does it come from?

Who was Sint Niklaas?

The original Saint Nicholas was a Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the first half of the fourth century. By the late middle ages, his death – or birth into heaven – on 6 December, was commemorated annually. St Nicholas came back to earth bearing gifts for all deserving children and punished the rest by leaving birch switches behind for parental use.

Now, St Nicholas arrives in Flanders and the Netherlands at the end of November from Spain on a steamboat; locals believe that Spanish sailors brought the legend of Saint Nicholas to the Netherlands. Special celebrations commence on 6 December. While the Dutch celebrate on 5 December, in Flanders celebrations take place on the day (6 December) with more focus on the children than the whole family.

This part as a Mexican was a bit of a shock because the focus on the children means a lot of presents, more than for Christmas. Now, I am more used to it and I enjoy the songs and all the preparations around Sinterklaas, I put every year our seminal table with the Sint and we eagerly await your arrival.

But in Belgium, most of the traditional songs come from the Netherlands, and my daughters, as good Flemish identity, asked me why they don't say anything about Belgium in the songs, I can’t change the lyric of the song but want so I what I did was created a special card for the children in Belgium.