Trip 4: A Walk to the Center

Different countries with different history leading to different holidays and different sensitive subjects.

From a mixture of Wikipedia and what the Dutch have told me: Sinterklaas is Saint Nick, who celebrates his religious “name day” (something we celebrated in Bulgaria as well) on November 12. He has origins going back to the Spanish Moors. The Dutch with painted faces are dressed up as his servants. I can say that it was not near as offensive or controversial as I thought it would be. Can you imagine if we in the States had a celebration like this? I have yet to form a full opinion on it. I’m not certain I ever will.

On November 12 Dutch children celebrate Sinterklaas with candy. On December 5 he’ll actually come to town.

I'll graduate inside that building.

Feel free to leave a comment telling me what you think. I’m curious as to what you make of it. I am having a hard time explaining why it makes me a bit uncomfortable to my Dutch classmates.