Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Some gifts Sinterklaas brought the doctors at UZ Leuven today.

December 6th also known as 'St. Nicholas Day' is an exciting day for boys and girls all over Belgium. It is a special holiday when kids open their gifts from Santa Claus.

On the night of December 5th, children put out their shoes at either their fireplace of front door in anticipation of the arrival of Santa Claus or in Dutch 'Sinterklaas.' While the kids sleep, Sinterklaas fills their shoes with candy and toys. Of course, only if they've been good.

In the hopes of getting extra gifts, sometimes children also like to add a carrot for the special horse that Sinterklaas rides. The magical horse, like Sinterklaas, is very old and can jump on the rooftop of houses that Sinterklaas visits. Sinterklaas also has an assistant called Zwarte Piet, in English 'Black Pete,' who was given his name because is always covered in soot from delivering the gifts through the chimneys.

I have to admit this is the first time I've heard this story, and the same is probably true for most of my North American friends who are all accustomed to opening gifts from Santa Claus on December 25th. But the story should sound oddly familiar. The highly commercialised version of Sinterklaas, Santa Claus, has Belgian roots. Over the years, with migration and imagination, the story of Sinterklaas has evolved into what many North Americans know today. Sinterklaas has been replaced by Santa Claus, the unique horse by reindeer, and 'Black Pete' by elves. Stockings left on the mantle of the fireplace substitute shoes, and now he lives in the North Pole. 

The story of Sinterklaas is not all make-believe. He is actually based on a real person, Nicholas from Myra. Legend has it that Nicholas could bring children back from the dead and find lost children by praying for them. He died on December 6th. Years after his death, he was declared a Saint. Saint Nicholas is known as the patron saint of children and today, on the day of his death, he is celebrated.

This tradition is not just celebrated in Belgium, but also in many other countries across Europe such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria etc.

While we're on the topic of Christmas traditions, one of my new favourites that I have enjoyed since beginning University in Europe is exploring the beautiful Christmas markets. Stalls are spread throughout squares in the city centre. There are lots of delicious traditional foods on sale and plenty of spots to have a drink. You'll find a wide range of handmade Christmas ornaments and decorations. And if you're looking for an inexpensive, original gift, it is the perfect place to do some Christmas shopping. Visiting a Christmas market is a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit. If there's one in a city near you, I totally recommend it!