What do Dutch children leave for Santa Claus to fill with gifts?
person
brightness_auto
3 Answers
Dutch children leave shoes for Santa Claus to fill with gifts. This tradition dates back to the late 19th century when Dutch children would leave their clogs filled with hay and carrots for Santa's reindeer. Today, children leave their shoes out on the night of December 5th and can expect to find them filled with gifts the next morning.
In the Netherlands, it is not common for Dutch children to leave gifts for Santa Claus. Instead, they celebrate the arrival of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on December 5th. During the Sinterklaas celebration, children put out their shoes, usually near the fireplace or by the front door, in the hope that Sinterklaas will visit during the night and leave them gifts and treats.
Children typically place a carrot or hay in their shoes for Sinterklaas' horse, known as Amerigo, as a gesture of kindness. They may also leave a drawing, a letter, or a wishlist for Sinterklaas to read. In return, Sinterklaas fills the children's shoes with small presents, chocolate letters, pepernoten (spiced cookies), marzipan, and other traditional sweets.
The tradition of leaving shoes out for Sinterklaas is an integral part of the Sinterklaas festivities in the Netherlands and is eagerly anticipated by children as they wake up to find their shoes filled with surprises from Sinterklaas.