"At Christmas, all roads lead home" - Marjorie Holmes
I cannot describe the excitement that ran through me when I brought my little Christmas tree back to the apartment yesterday and began to string the cheap lights I had bought from Blokker around the €6 Albert Heijn special. Even when I went into The Hague this evening to buy some sparkly adornments, I couldn't bring myself to switch on the lights until all the baubles and tinsel was on it. Behold, the Budget Kerstboom!
Now for a quick (and mostly incomplete) lesson in Dutch Christmas. It's a busy time in here in the Netherlands, as Sinterklaas arrived a few weeks ago and has been busy touring the country. If you don't know who Sinterklaas is, it's this guy...
Unlike some guy you may know, who comes from the North Pole, he comes from Spain. He also travels on a boat with a load of these guys...
In case you are wondering, yes this is basically a white guy in black face paint. His name is Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). It might seem a little racist to some of my friends back at home, and apparently this debate occurs every year in the Netherlands, but as far as kids are concerned these little guys bring them their presents. And that is that!
In fact, the kids all get their presents tomorrow. What is even more important is that I also get to leave work an hour early! But I have to wait a few more weeks for my gifts...
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