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A very Dutch tradition is the celebration of Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas on December 5th. The tradition is based on a mixture of folklore, legends and interpretations, but it comes down to this.
Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas we usually say, comes from Spain, has a long white beard, a red robe and rides on a horse. He arrives on a steamer from Spain a few weeks before December 5th. In the weeks until December 5th children sing songs in front of the fireplace. Sinterklaas comes through the chimney and leaves candy in the children's shoes by the fireplace.
Sinterklaas and his many helpers called Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) bring candy and toys to the children who have been good on the evening of December 5th. Naughty children don't get a present, but a set of twigs for spanking like a cane.
The tradition bears many resemblances with the tradition of Santa Claus: red suit, white beard, candy, toys, good and bad etc. I'm not sure which influenced which, but that doesn't really matter.
Fact is that even in the Netherlands, Christmas and Santa Claus are being celebrated more and more, much to the dismay of Sinterklaas who is getting less and less attention. It's like with Thanksgiving: the day after all the shops are completely ready for Christmas and that seems a little ungrateful sometimes.
Sinterklaas is celebrated only in parts of Europe: the Netherlands, parts of Belgium, parts of Germany and some other parts.
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