Sinterklaas, what is that about?? ?

Question

Just wanted to know.

Answer 1

"Sinterklaas", also called "Sint Niklaas", officially "Sint Nicolaas", in English "Saint Nicholas of Myra", was a Christian saint who was famous for giving gifts in secret to needy people. So his name day became an occasion for giving gifts in secret to kids.

He is, together with the Germanic god Wodan/Odin, one of the inspirations for Santa Claus.  

Answer 2

Sinterklaas was Turkish saint.  His helpers, or pieten, are black because of the soot from the chimneys.  If a child was bad the pieten would give them coal and if they were really bad they get bagged up and brought back to spain.  Sinterklaas comes from spain on a boat riding a white horse in December (5th).  Sinterklaas is a Dutch holiday, much like christmas, for gift giving etc but not a religious day.  

I like the 'stupid' songs that are sung.

  The American Santa Claus is modeled after Sinterklaas which is why they are so similar.  Sinterklaas is a much older tradition and idea (and it at least makes a little more sense opposed to flying reindeer, elves, and north pole).

Answer 3

Sinterklaas actually refers to the Turkish (often mistaken to be Spanish due to his name) Saint Nicholas, who had black slaves (also known as zwarte pieten) and gave them gold to give/throw to the poor. Nowadays Sinterklaas is a Dutch holiday, where you sing stupid songs and wait for that d**n Sinterklaas to come and put candy and pepernoten in your shoe and give you presents, until you grow up and realize that your parents were ******* with you.

Most people think that Sinterklaas is the American Santa Claus, but they're completely different.