Much like the arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the United States, each year in the Netherlands, a parade celebrates the start of the holiday season and the arrival of Sinterklaas
Locally, one town has kept the traditions of its Dutch heritage alive by celebrating St. Nicolaas Day and the spirit of Sinterklaas with an annual festival.
“St. Nicolaas Eve really is a major event in the Netherlands,” said David Roberts, president of the Schuylerville Chamber of Commerce. “They don’t celebrate Christmas like we do here. We always used to do a Dutch Christmas, but about a decade ago we decided to mimic how they celebrate the season.”
The feast of St. Nicolaas has been celebrated for generations throughout Europe.
The real man was a bishop, known to be a generous person and a protector of those in need, in part because of his Christian faith. He especially loved children. Stories tell of him providing dowries to the daughters of poor men, and tossing gold into open windows as he passed. Soon, children were leaving their stockings and shoes out in hopes of receiving gifts from St. Nicolaas, or Sinterklaas.
His life was later celebrated as a feast day on the day of his death, Dec. 6.
Today, the beginning of the holiday season is marked by the arrival of Sinterklaas parading through town and is broadcast on national television. His helpers, called Pieten, pass out candy and small toys to children in the crowd, while stockings and shoes are still left out on Dec. 5 in order to receive gifts.
The residents of Schuylerville follow the traditions closely as possible.
“We have tried to create a few events that are unique to the town,” said Roberts. “Everyone has a Santa Claus, but not everyone one has St. Nick riding through on a white horse. We want to keep with the theme like they would in Holland.”
Prior to the parade, there are arts and crafts stations, vendors selling gifts, a play performed at the bandstand and a festival of trees. Local businesses also stay open late to accommodate shoppers.
Around 4 p.m. children are given lanterns to follow St. Nicolaas into town, while the Piets walk around with treats. The chief Piet accompanies Sinterklaas in the parade carrying the golden book, which contains the names of good and bad children.
“It’s a fun day for the family,” said Roberts.
To fund the festival, the chamber turns to another holiday tradition of the Netherlands.
For the past five years, the town has sold large chocolate letters as a fundraiser. The letters are usually given out at Sinterklaas parties on St. Nicolaas Eve. The tradition began when the first letter of a person’s name was baked out of bread and used to identify each person’s gifts. The tradition was later switched to chocolate when it became more readily available.
Locally, Schuyler Sweets creates the letters for the fundraiser since they are hard to find outside the Netherlands.
Shop owner Bob Stickle said finding the molds stateside was difficult.
“The town originally ordered the first bunch from a place in Michigan and we were finally able to track more down, since they’re normally only sold in Europe,” he said. “We also use our own chocolate,” instead of ordering is from the Netherlands.
The letters are increasing in popularity with each passing year, according to Stickle. Nearly 270 were ordered for last year’s event and the number is expected to grow this year.
“Next year, we’re thinking of taking orders through the Chamber’s website,” said Roberts.
Each letter is 3-by-4 inches and all weigh about the same, even the “I’s.” Stickle said his shop uses about 75 pounds of chocolate on the letters annually.
But the Schuylerville chocolate letter does differ from the Netherlands in at least one way.
In the Netherlands, no chocolate letters are sold after St. Nicolaas Day but are shipped back to chocolate companies where they are melted down to be re-molded, usually for Easter candy. In Schuylerville, the letters will be on sale until Christmas.
The letters can be pre-ordered and Schuyler Sweets will pour the chocolate into a mold the day before it’s picked up, so it’s fresh, or some letters will be pre-made to be bought the day of the festival. According to Stickle, “J’s,” “M’s,” and “S’s” are the most popular letters sold. Each costs $6, with all of the proceeds going towards the parade.
“It’s becoming a tradition to buy them now,” said Stickle. “We’ve had some interesting orders over the years. Last year, there were actually some people from Holland here who bought letters and went to the parade. They were very impressed that we are trying to keep the tradition alive.”
The Schuylerville St. Nicolaas Festival is Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the parade beginning around 4:30 p.m. Chocolate letters can be ordered by visiting Schuyler Sweets or calling them at 695-4171.
