Saint Nicholas
The story of St. Nicholas..
• Nicholas was born in Turkey around
271AD
• His parents died when he was young
• He wanted to spend his money helping
others
• He helped a family by secretly giving them
gold
The story of St. Nicholas..
• Nicholas became a priest and then a bishop
• He became famous because sailors told
stories about him as they travelled around
the world
• Over 30 countries celebrate his day on 6th
December
• In the Netherlands everyone celebrates
Sinterklaas by having parties and eating
special food.
Nicholas and the poor family
• Nicholas heard about a family who had lost
their money.
• In those days, if you didn’t have money, your
daughters couldn’t get married.
• This money was called a ‘dowry’. Without a
dowry, the daughters would have to be sold
as slaves.
• Nicholas secretly gave the family enough
gold for all three girls to marry.
• The father hid one night to see who was
giving them the money.
• He thanked Nicholas, who told him not to
tell anyone.
The Netherlands a year in the life
of Sinterklaas
• January - Sinterklaas rests!
• February - Sinterklaas travels around,
watching to see how well children behave.
• November – Sinterklaas travels to the
Netherlands from Spain by steamboat with
his helper and his milk-white horse.
Mid-November - 4 December
• Day - Sinterklaas and his helpers visit towns
• Night - Sinterklaas rides Schimmel to all the
rooftops in the land.
• He drops chocolate letters, sweets and small presents down
the chimneys for children who have been good all year.
• Children leave out shoes by the fireplace, filled with a carrot
or some straw for the horse.
December 5th - evening
• Grown-ups and children exchange gifts
called "surprises".
• They make up poems about their friends and
family and secretly put them on the gifts.
• People read their poem aloud in front of
everyone.
• Traditional sweets and baked goods are
eaten and the adults drink mulled wine