Sinterklaas!

Over the years the Sinterklaas celebrations in the historic Dutch settlements of Kingston and Rhinebeck in the Hudson Valley have evolved, taking on some new elements. Among the most important ones: Sinterklaas walks in stead of riding on a horse ('Dat met dat paard dat doe ik niet' - Courtesy of the Movie "Alles is Liefde"), he does not only have an arrival ceremony (arriving by boat): he also has a take-off ceremony (leaving by boat a week earlier; this is what we attended). incidentally, he does not travel from Spain to NL but from Kingston to Rhinebeck (taking a week). In addition, his take-off is celebrated with a maritime parade (?), Piet had a make-over AND he wishes the children eagerly shaking his hand "merry Christmas" (thereby terribly confusing the Dutch children that travelled in big numbers with their parents to Kingston today). All that said, I think Sinterklaas did a pretty good job hopping over the Atlantic to say 'hi' to the people here and we briefly felt like children again :) Dank U Sinterklaasje!