Comments on: 8 Truly Strange Christmas Customs

By: annejumps

annejumps — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:52:00 +0000

Thanks, Michelle! Will do.

My dad says the pickle thing is Austrian. *still skeptical*

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:45:00 +0000

annejumps – yes I still have lots of friends living in Garmisch. email me at belled27@yahoo.com

By: Erik

Erik — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:40:00 +0000

@Jason – Gluhwein is amazing!

Sadly, I cannot remember my original source, but I also have been hoodwinked by this ‘German pickle’ mystery. I’ve worked both with Germans and in Germany, and I must say that no German that I know has ever heard of the pickle tradition.

I researched it a while back and found that it had something to do with a U.S. soldier bringing back a ‘Christmas pickle’ story after World War II.

By: Samir

Samir — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:07:00 +0000

Sorry now but seriously , drinkin means the beatings arnt gonna hurt that much?!?! where did u grow up!

By: Gustave

Gustave — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:19:00 +0000

“Sinterklaas is the basis for the North American figure of Santa Claus.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

By: Jack Wright

Jack Wright — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:02:00 +0000

Wow, those are some pretty cool looking creatures!

jess
http://www.online-privacy.se.tc

By: Deliggit.com | The social sites' most interesting urls

Deliggit.com | The social sites' most interesting urls — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:52:00 +0000

8 Truly Strange Christmas Customs | Deliggit.com

\r\nDecember 25th was set as the date for Christmas in the 4th century as an attempt

By: Daisy

Daisy — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:24:00 +0000

I wanted to add to Koos. Sinterklaas is completely seperate from Christmas, because yes, we celebrate Christmas as well! Two holidays in December.

Translated we call Santa “Christmas Man” and though we took over the look from America, it has been celebrated as a pagan holiday throughout history here with “Father winter or winter spirit” evolving into nowadays “Christmas Man”

By: Martijn

Martijn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:45:00 +0000

@Clair
The origin of Sinterklaas is pretty vague. I’ve no idea why he lives in Madrid, Spain. But he is based on the Saint Nicolaas from Myra, Myra a place in Turkey. Everybody in Holland knows it.
The idea of Madrid, Spain was planted by a schoolteacher from Amsterdam, (maybe he was on drugs, when he thought about it). He also introduced the steamboat.

But all in all, the tradition isn’t quite regarded as rascist by most people. Only the ethnic minorities.
But I can understand it can be painfull for those people. Maybe it’s really time to let go of the slave handling past of The Netherlands. And throw ‘Black Pete’ overboard, maybe that wasnt such a good analogy. Or maybe we shouldn’t part with the past. And educate children about Black Pete, (or Zwarte Piet), about the true nature. but then it won’t be a fun and festive holiday, with presents and all that for the kids.

Also Sinterklaas and Santaclaus shouldn’t be confused. Though they are based on the same Saint. Only Santaclaus has a bit more the commercial approach.
Santaclaus is primarily ignored in The Netherlands, only because of the US influence of the last couple of decades the people in Holland start to put presents underneath the Christmas tree etc.
Also Sinterklaas has nothing to do with Christmas, they are 2 totally different holidays. It’s like saying Halloween and Easter are the same. There should be a clear boundary between them.

There is also a lot of resentment for the commercial sector in The Netherlands. They are often criticized for putting Christmas decorations too early in the stores, they should wait for Sinterklaas to end.

But it was a good and fun article. :)

By: nico_robin123

nico_robin123 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:32:00 +0000

blood bigger