Rediscovering Childhood Treasures - A Nostalgic Moment

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around nostalgic childhood memories related to the Sinterklaas holiday, including personal anecdotes about gifts, traditions, and experiences associated with the celebration. Participants share their reflections on the holiday's significance and their experiences, blending humor and sentimentality.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant shares a nostalgic memory of finding an old song related to Sinterklaas, expressing disappointment at not receiving presents that year.
  • Another participant inquires about the reasons for the lack of presents.
  • Several participants discuss the tradition of receiving gifts in shoes during the Sinterklaas holiday, with one mentioning the humorous experience of a cat leaving presents in shoes.
  • One participant humorously describes the unpleasant surprise of finding bird droppings in their drink, relating it to the theme of unexpected gifts.
  • Another participant reflects on their first experience with Sinterklaas, noting the cultural differences and humorous moments encountered, including the tradition of candy being thrown by helpers.
  • A participant explains the historical context of the Sinterklaas tradition, mentioning its origins and the role of 'zwarte pieten' (Black Peters), while also addressing the controversy surrounding this aspect of the celebration.
  • Discussion includes a mention of how Sinterklaas is related to the Santa Claus tradition in the United States.
  • One participant reminisces about the magical aspects of the holiday, including the belief in Sinterklaas and the rituals involved in receiving gifts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share a mix of personal experiences and cultural observations, with some expressing agreement on the nostalgic and humorous aspects of the holiday, while others raise questions about the cultural implications of certain traditions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the appropriateness of certain elements of the Sinterklaas celebration.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various cultural interpretations and experiences of the Sinterklaas holiday, highlighting differences in understanding and participation. There are unresolved discussions about the implications of the 'zwarte pieten' tradition and its historical context.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in cultural traditions, childhood memories, and the interplay of humor and nostalgia in holiday celebrations may find this discussion engaging.

Monique
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Anyone ever found some old stuff from your childhood and though: now THAT is nice?

I just found a piece of paper from when I must've been around 6.. a song written by one of St. Nicolas' helpers (similar to Christmas), who recites all the bad stuff the kids in class had been doing in that past year.

I was reading it and thought: I'm not in it :( ..
I come to the end and there it is "monique: I think you are a very sweet girl, you'll probably get all the presents you've asked for."

all together: *ahhh* I didn't get any presents this year though :(
 
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Why no presents?
 
It's a children's holiday, during the whole month of November you'll get a present in your shoe in the morning
 
I used to have a cat that left presents in shoes overnight...
 
Originally posted by Adam
I used to have a cat that left presents in shoes overnight...
I can relate. That is one of the WORST ways to start a day...
 
Originally posted by Tsunami
I can relate. That is one of the WORST ways to start a day...

Its just as bad as exiting the house with a cup of hot chocolate and having a bird dive-bomb a turd into it.
 
Originally posted by motai
Its just as bad as exiting the house with a cup of hot chocolate and having a bird dive-bomb a turd into it.
GRODY! (Did it look like a melted marshmallow floating on the top?)
 
Children's holiday, huh? Who are you kidding? It's the first time I see this Sinterklaas thing going on and I got to see 25 year old people painting thair faces, I learned to duck while the helpers were throwing candy at me and laughed my ass off at the rumours the helpers were telling Sinterklaas. Oh, yeah, the spanish had no idea about the story and the song was hilarious. A wonderful experience though. I'm sorry I didn't remember to write a letter. I got a present though: I saw americans trying to speak dutch. That was gorgeous. In 3 months I got to the point of almost understanding this language, but I don't yet get the courage to open my mouth and utter more than 2-3 words. What are the helpers called again?
 
Originally posted by motai
Its just as bad as exiting the house with a cup of hot chocolate and having a bird dive-bomb a turd into it.

The worst is when you're sitting under a tree at an outdoor cafe and you don't notice that a bird dropped something in your beer until after you take a drink and wonder "what the hell is in my mouth?"

Anyway, back to the subject. Christmas is for kids of ALL ages! I am sad that you did not get a Christmas present Monique. :frown:
 
  • #10
Originally posted by Sonty
Children's holiday, huh? Who are you kidding? It's the first time I see this Sinterklaas thing going on and I got to see 25 year old people painting thair faces, I learned to duck while the helpers were throwing candy at me and laughed my ass off at the rumours the helpers were telling Sinterklaas. Oh, yeah, the spanish had no idea about the story and the song was hilarious. A wonderful experience though. I'm sorry I didn't remember to write a letter. I got a present though: I saw americans trying to speak dutch. That was gorgeous. In 3 months I got to the point of almost understanding this language, but I don't yet get the courage to open my mouth and utter more than 2-3 words. What are the helpers called again?
Yeah, he is actually Turkish, but since the boat came around the corner at Spain, people started telling he is from Spain The helpers throwing candy at you huh? Yeah, that is what they do.. the story goes that they used to throw money in poor people's houses, that is where the tradition comes from..

The helpers? They are called 'zwarte pieten', translates into 'black Pete's', they paint their faces black and ware funky outfits and climb up buildings and such.. yeah, they are actually black slaves of a white bishop.. some people have a problem with that, I think that is nosense.
 
  • #11
Sinterklaas is actually the tradition where Santa Claus originated from, the Dutch brought the tradition to the US, where it took up an identity of its own.
 
  • #12
And yeah it IS a childrens holiday. I actually believed in the existence of that man, all children did (do).

He comes with his boat from Spain (which is a really big day, he ACTUALLY arrives in a boat and welcomes all the kids in the harbor, there is the same person who plays him every year) and every night he comes over the roof tops on his *white* horse and brings a small present into your shoe for a month, BUT you DO have to sing a song every night, otherwise the shoe stays empty.

At the end of the month he returns to spain, takes any kids with him in a bag, who have been naughty. That night is actually the night that the bishop died, it is celebrated big where at night a stranger knocks on the door, the kid opens it and finds a HUGE bag filled with presents..

Ah.. if only I were young again..
 

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