Yi Zhen Lin
Sinterklaas

Did anyone celebrate Sinterklaas yesterday? My Dutch friends mostly dont celebrate Sinterklaas. They told me its a holiday for children. I wonder till what age do you stop celebrating Sinterklaas?

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التعليقات · 3
2

I can only say that as an American living in Amsterdam in 2011 I was incredibly shocked by the holiday even though I was already familiar with it. From an American perspective the holiday is incredibly rascist, though I don't think its fair to just take it out of context and apply one's own viewpoint.

Last year the United Nations nonetheless, investigated into the possible racism of the holiday.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14013&LangID=E

Generally when I have tried to talk to my Dutch family about the holiday they get very defensive and don't see any harm in the use of "black-face" makeup for the purposes of the holiday. I think the charge kind of sticks a little bit because otherwise the Dutch are considered very tolerant and open-minded.

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In general the standard way of celebrating Sinterklaas stops when the child finds out Sinterklaas doesn't actually exist. Usually that's when they're 5 or 6. Easily explained because this is when they start going to school. Through interaction with the older kids some will pick up it's not real. Sometimes parents will continue celebrating for 1 or 2 years just because it's fun and cozy.

 

Older kids celebrate in a fashion quite similar to secret santa which we call "surprise". (Pronounced the French way (Sur-pree-suh), not the English way.) I think in primary school we did this when we were about 10/11. The teacher writes everyone's name on a piece of paper and puts the pieces of paper in a bag so each kid can draw one name. You're then supposed to get them a present. Normally there's a limit to how much you can spend. Oh, and you're not supposed to just wrap the presents. Instead you have to create some elaborate packaging. I remember in primary school I made a top hat with a fake bottom, so it was extra hard to find the present.

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Many companies have there own Sinterklaasparty inwhich they invite the children of the employees. The children will get presents to a certain amount (e.g. €20)

Must companies stop giving presents to children when the child reach the age of 10.

Of course everybody is free to decide to give presents to family members/friends at the older age and even adults sometimes give presents to each other.

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