Sinterklaas (or more formally Sint Nicolaas or Sint Nikolaas) is a traditional winter holiday figure still celebrated
in the Low Countries, including the Netherlands. Although he is usually referred to as Sinterklaas, he is also known as
De Goedheiligman (The Good Holy Man) or simply as De Sint(The Saint). He is celebrated annually on Saint Nicholas'
eve (5 December) in the Netherlands. Originally, the feast celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas – patron saint
of children, among others. Sint Nicholas being a bishop and this geographical spread make clear that the feast in this
form has a Roman Catholic background, although the papacy has never officially recognized his existence.
In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' Eve, 5 December, became the chief occasion for gift-giving during the Christmas
season. The evening is called Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond. For Dutch children, it is customary to put one shoe in
front of the fireplace from the day Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands, usually in the third week of November,
sing Sinterklaas songs and go to bed. A carrot and/or hay, an apple, etc. may put in the shoe as a treat for Sinterklaas'
horse. The next morning the carrot would be gone and the children may find candy or a small present in their shoes.
Drawings made by the children are put into the shoes as a present to Sinterklaas. In houses without a chimney and
fireplace the shoes are put in front of the backdoor. The rationalisation is that Sinterklaas has a key for every
door, or one key that fits every door.
On the evening of 5 December ("pakjesavond") the main presents will somehow arrive, or a note will be "found"
that explains where in house the presents were hidden by Zwarte Piet who left a burlap sack with them. Sometimes
a neighbor will knock on the door (pretending to be a Zwarte Piet) and leave the sack outside for the children to
retrieve; this varies per family. When the presents arrive, the living room is decked out with them, much as on
Christmas Day in English-speaking countries.

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