Ian and I have started getting into the Christmas spirit and are enjoying seeing how Italy celebrates, as well as learning about other cultures' holiday traditions, which we unintentionally end up comparing to our own. We thought we'd share our favorite Christmas story, as told by David Sedaris, which sort of sums up what it's like.
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The Dutch family I sit for made a quick trip home to the Netherlands this weekend to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. I asked the kids to tell me more about Sinterklaas and their holiday tradition and could barely keep myself from giggling as they told me about his arrival via boat from Spain. I asked if he had any elves with him and they told me, "Oh yes! There's about 31 of them and they're all black and wear lots of bright colors!" We compared traditions of stockings vs. shoes for goodies. I told them that bad American children get coal to which the little girl replied that bad children in Holland get beaten with a stick. Her brother chimed in that that wasn't true anymore and you might even still get one present, traditionally the first initial of your name in chocolate on St. Nicholas Eve. He also told me that Sinterklaas will find you anywhere in the world on St. Nicholas Day if you are Dutch or Spanish. I think this is likely how Santa Claus improves his efficiency and is able to cover the whole world Christmas Eve, since he's already got the Dutch & Spanish kids out of the way. I'm off to find us stockings to hang on our radiator, hoping he will find us in Italy...
