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Hello Reader,

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We hope you and your family had a lovely herfstvakantie and that the return to school has gone smoothly today.

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We’re popping into your inbox with one very good reason: Amsterdam Mamas Spooktacular is happening this Saturday, 24 October!

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There is still time to make one spooky family plan for the weekend…
Bring your little ghosts, witches, superheroes and monsters to UJ Klaren Park for a playful Halloween morning with costumes, community and lots of spooky fun.
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Choose the time slot that works best for your family:
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• 10:00–11:30
• 12:00–13:30

If you’re looking for a lovely way to celebrate halloween fun with the kids, this is it.

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Limited Tickets are available now — register your family today.
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​LIMITED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE​

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The post Amsterdam Mamas Halloween Spooktacular — tickets available now appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Last year in early November, the school parents’ Whatsapp group had an announcement: Each child (mine was five) had to go get a battery-operated lantern for school. It was called a ‘lampionstokje’.

We had four days to get it.

Apparently you could get it “everywhere”.

So, dutifully (and last minute-ly), I rushed to look for, er, ‘one of those things’ for the child, not knowing what it was or why. I was told that Blokker had some pink ones—the child only thinks in pinks. Heaving a relieved sigh on finding a pink one, we were ready for the day. But I still did not know why. #newimporttoamsterdam

Now let’s learn together, for all the new imports to Amsterdam!

Who Is Sint Maarten?

Sint Maarten (Saint Martin), according to one legend, is a Roman soldier who was approached by a beggar in the cold streets of what is now France. Martinus van Tours himself was not wealthy and all he had to keep himself warm that wintry day in November was the cape that was part of his soldier’s uniform. He gave this beggar a part of his own cape.

The story of Martin of Tours ‘went viral’ in the 1800s and so began a tradition, on 11 November, of children and beggars forming processions seeking alms and shelter from the bitter cold. Since the 1920s, every 11 November, all around Holland, children walk down the streets with their ‘lampion met lampionstokjes’ (lanterns and their stickholders). They knock on doors and call out for Sint Maarten. The Dutch now celebrate the sainted soldier’s act for at least two possible reasons:

Looking for the lost soldier: Some believe that soon after, the soldier Martinus van Tours disappeared. So now, the children echo the soldiers and people of past who walked down the streets looking for the lost soldier.

Celebrating generosity: Simply put, the Dutch are commemorating his act of generosity and humanity.

Honoured during mass: Today, St Martin is regarded as friend of the children and patron of the poor. The date is significant in the Catholic church calendar as it marks the end of autumn and begins the fasting period of Advent.

Note: A helpful member of the Facebook Amsterdam Mamas has schooled me: this day commemorates St Martin’s burial on 11 Nov 397. It is a religious holiday, celebrated in many European countries, including the Eastern European nations. St Maarten’s Day also marks the start of the Advent fasting period of which goes right up until 6 January. This period begins on the eleventh of the eleventh month of the year, at eleven minutes past eleven in the morning.

Celebrating Sint Maarten’s Day Today

IN 2020, BECAUSE OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS, THERE IS NO PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF SINT MAARTEN’S DAY: NO PROCESSION, NO DOOR TO DOOR, NO BONFIRES.

The Natuur Speeleiland in Haarlem is planning an outdoor event for young children, Sint Maarten and the Snoepfabriek, on 11 November at 17:00. Tickets purchased here.

Please check their website/FB page to be sure event will be happening.

Today, like Halloween, much of the original meaning is lost. It is now a popular event, largely celebrated by children. All over Holland, children put on their winter coats and hats and go out in groups, carrying their lanterns. And they go up to a door, knock on the door, and much like carolling, they start singing a Sint Maarten’s song. In return, they get candy. And then they go to the next house. And sing. And get candy. Of course, this is more popular in the areas in Netherlands where you have streets and streets of houses, rather than apartment blocks.

In schools, it is a popular tradition for the younger children to take their lanterns and go around to the different classes and sing their songs.

It is also popular to have bonfires in the evening and sit around to enjoy a warm drink and laughter.

Songs about Sint Maarten

If you’re like me and you’re have yet to master the Dutch language, you might be slightly perplexed when your child comes home and starts singing something you don’t quite get. You assume they’re about the alphabet or a monkey eating a banana, but if this is early November, they’re most likely singing one of a few Sint Maarten ditties.

11 November (click to hear)

Elf november is de dag
Dat mijn lichtje, dat mijn lichtje.
Elf November is de dag
Dat mijn lichtije branden mag!

 Sinte, Sinte Maarten (click to hear)

Sinte, sinte Maarten –
De koeien hebben starten!
De meisjes hebben rokjes aan!

De jongens hebben sokjes aan!

Daar komt sinte Maarten aan!

Lampion met Lampionstokjes

At the very basic, this is a clear plastic shade that is held up by a holder/stick that has a bulb at the end where the shade is hung and a battery compartment at the other end. Many schools have art sessions to dress these inexpensive plastic shades up.

Now you can indeed purchase one of these things ‘anywhere’. The following places in Amsterdam are prepared for Sint Maarten:

Blokker

Hema

Lampionwebshop

Lampion Lampionnen

Action

The more exerienced may attempt to make their own lanterns, but please use an electric candle or Sint Maarten’s could get confused with Bonfire Night (UK)!

All photo credits: Audrey Coggins

The post The New Amsterdam Import: Sint Maarten’s Day? appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Who is Sint?

Sinterklaas is the Dutch iteration of Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Christian Bishop, and is the central figure in the revered Dutch holiday celebrating St. Nicholas Day on 6 December. Sinterklaas wears a red mitre, holds a staff and has a long beard. Though the historical Saint Nicholas lived in modern-day Turkey, Sinterklaas resides in Spain with his helpers, the Zwarte Pieten, who travel with him to the Netherlands every November to celebrate his birthday. Sinterklaas brings presents for all the children in the Netherlands, or at least those whose names are on the “good” list in his big book of names. 

Arrival in Amsterdam

Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands in mid-November (the first Saturday after 11 Nov) by steamboat from Spain along with his helpers. A different city is selected each year as the official arrival place, followed by his arrival in Amsterdam (and other cities) the next day. In Amsterdam, Sint arrives in his boat along the Amstel river, greeted by hundreds of children waving flags and many dressed up as Sint or Piet. He then does a tour of the city on the back of his white horse, Amerigo. The Pieten are a favorite among the children, with some on roller skates, some abseiling down the walls of the Bijenkorf, and almost all giving out candy and pepernoten.

Note: The parade in Amsterdam can be crowded and you have to be prepared to wait sometimes too.

Shoe Setting and Pakjesavond

Once Sint is in the Netherlands (and when the parents allow), the children “set their shoe” in the evenings by singing a little song, and leaving a carrot for Amerigo. Sint leaves them little presents like a pencil, some pepernoten or a chocolate letter.

The birthday of Sinterklaas is 6 Dec, but the main celebrations take place the night before, on 5 December, or pakjesavond (present evening). In the early evening, children are supposed to sing songs for Sint. Then there is a knock at the door and a sack of presents is found by the children on the doorstep. Once children are older, another tradition is to write poems and make “surprises” for one another. For example, if a child enjoys Lego, someone may decorate a box as a big Lego brick, hiding the real present inside. Crazy but fun.

Good to Know

Every evening while Sint is in the Netherlands there is a “news brief” for children, called the Sinterklaas Journaal, where the activities and antics of Sint and the Pieten play out in a storyline. Many children will also watch it in school. More info here. 

Sinterklaas and Christmas are separate holidays, and Christmas decorations don’t traditionally appear until after Sint has left, on 6 December. In the Netherlands, 25 December is mostly celebrated with a family meal. Some families are beginning to give presents at Christmas as well, but mostly only at Sinterklaas.

Here are a few songs for your child to sing while they ‘set their shoe’:

Dag Sinterklaasje

Dag Sinterklaasje dag dag

Dag dag Zwarte Piet

Dag Sinterklaasje dag dag

Luister naar ons afscheidslied

Sinterklaasje, Bonne, Bonne, Bonne

Sinterklaasje, bonne, bonne, bonne

Gooi wat in mijn lege, lege tonne,

Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,

Dank U, Sinterklaasje

Sinterklaas Kapoentje

Sinterklaas kapoentje,

Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,

Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,

Dank je Sinterklaasje!

Zie Ginds Komt de Stoomboot

Zie ginds komt de stoomboot uit Spanje weer aan.

Hij brengt ons Sint Nicolaas ik zie hem al staan.

Hoe huppelt zijn paardje het dek op en neer,

Hoe waaien de wimpels al heen en al weer.

Read more about Sinterklaas.

The post Who is Sinterklaas? appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.