Happy Sinterklaas!

[AntManBee]

I don't know how many Dutch members we have, but happy Sinterklaas to those!

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Is that the holiday where they all go into the streets naked and pour chocolate on each other?

[AntManBee]

Is that the holiday where they all go into the streets naked and pour chocolate on each other?

No idea but that sounds interesting!

[mke]

Is that the holiday where they all go into the streets naked and pour chocolate on each other?

No, this is the holiday where we don't do that.

And I think it's Sint Nikolas (Saint Nicolas for the francophones). In Belgium at least, leading up to today, it is not uncommon to see a Saint Nicholas in the street in full regalia, on a horse, with Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) following with a donkey. I've never seen it, but Nicholas's arrival in Belgium (by boat, I don't know if it's a single event or repeated in many cities) is a big event.

[Brian Olewnick]

Quite coincidentally, I received the following e-mail this morning from a friend of mine who was in Amsterdam this weekend:

Here I am in Amsterdam (alone, unfortunately) and I stumble across the Breuker annual Sinterklaas concert. It was amazing, the usual ten players along with eight string players - 2 3/4 hours of amazing music in a beautiful concert hall. I heard one of the greatest solos I've ever heard in any setting, from the younger trombone player. There was also a great harmonica solo from the female alto player. Both of those came during a 45 minute piece that I've emailed Herr Breuker to get the name of.

[Dr Dave]

I had an encounter with Zwarte Piet in Amsterdam several years ago. "Renounce Santa!" he called, cheerfully.