Sinterklaas in Best

I am one of those parents who swore that I would tell my kids the truth about Santa Clause, Sinterklaas, Samichlaus or whatever you choose to call him. That is, I wouldn't tell them about him at all. I would make sure they knew what is real. I didn't want them to associate Christmas with anything but Christ. And lest you think I'm just a nutty religious person, the tradition in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany that I grew up with is the one that the Christkindl (Christ child) brings the presents. So while I loved the idea of Santa Clause, he had not much to do with my upbringing. 

Anyway, all my efforts failed. Ezra found out about Santa Clause through books and movies, and in school here they make a very big deal about Sinterklaas, who comes on a steamboat from Spain, with his black servants who hand out cookies and candy. They go through an elaborate charade here with the news channels reporting sightings and tracking his journey. He visits every city in the Netherlands. Yesterday was the Sinterklaas parade here, and it happened to pass right by our house. Ezra asked me if he could believe that Santa Clause brought him presents on Christmas, and that Sinterklaas comes to bring him gifts. I told him "That isn't what actually happens Ezra, but if you want to believe and pretend, that is fine with me." Ezra and Micah now happily believe in Sinterklaas, and I know I told them the truth. Everyone's happy. 

So yesterday night the kids put their shoes outside of the front door, and "Sinterklaas" left them a bag of goodies in their shoes. It was very cute to see their excitement and wonder in their eyes.