Comments on: Christmas Compared

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 18:22:48 +0000

In reply to GH.

I’ll translate this in summary for those who don’t speak Dutch. GH says that most families celebrate only Sinterklaas or only Christmas, at least when it comes to big presents for the children. Often at Sinterklaas, they do a “surprise evening” for the adults. They draw lots with each other’s names and for the person they drew, they make a surprise, which is a thing, that has to do with something the person does or did or what the person likes or hates, etc. They also write a rhyming poem for the person that often makes fun of the person. Usually there’s a price maximum set on gifts, e.g. 5 to 15 euros. Christmas is usually a family occasion: they visit each other on Dec. 25th or 26th. Some use Santa Claus instead of Sinterklaas, in which case the gifts come at Christmas. Families sometimes choose Christmas because it’s when the family is free so they can celebrate together. A lot of people go away on vacation to get away from the Christmas stress and because the kids have two weeks off school then.
She adds that she’s glad that it’s not like it used to be when absolutely everything closed down over Christmas, except the Roman Catholic church, of course, where you had to go to mass on both days. Then home to eat and then go walking in the woods because you ate so much. She’s happy that there is so much choice nowadays and that lots of things are open.

By: GH

GH — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 23:30:41 +0000

Hoi Rachel jij mag dit int engels vertalen voor mij aub,’De gezinnen vieren meestal alleen Sinterklaas òf Kertmis,tenminste wat de grote cadeaus betreft de de kinderen mogen vragen.Vaak met Sinterklaas,als de kinderen wat groter zijn, doen ze al mee aan de suprise avond, die de volwassenen onder elkaar vieren. Je trekt ieder n lootje met n naam van degenen die allemaal meedoen met de suprise avond.Je maakt dan voor diegene een suprise,Dat slaat op iets wat diegene deed/doet,leuk vindt of n grote hekel aan heeft etc.Maar t is meestal iets waarmee je de draak steekt wb die persoon.Verder maken ze ook n rijmpje op die persoon,meestal ook waarbij diegene n beetje op n leuke manier op de hak genomen wordt. Cadeautje(s) wordt vantevoren meestal een prijs afgesproken die er aan besteed mag worden door iedereen,,Vaak ook eigenlijk maar n heel symbolisch bedrag,€5,00 -€15 moet je dan aan denken echt geen grote bedragen.

Kerst is vaker een grotere familie bijeenkomst en elkaar bezoeken(ouders/schoonouders) met 1e en of 2e kerstdag,Of allemaal bij elkaar,Er zijn er die de Kerstman vieren ipv Snterklaas,en dan komen de cadeautjes met de kerst dus.Meestal kiezen ouders die wel vrij zijn met Kerst maar niet met Sinterklaas voor de Kerstmanom het dan te vieren,ook omdat ze langer vrij zijn en danmet de hele familie kersyt samen vieren.Heel veel mensen gaan ook op vakantie met Kerst en Oud en Nieuw!En ontvluchten deze drukke Kerststress.Ook omdat de kinderen dan vaak 2weken vrij zijn,
Ontvluchtte zelf ook n aantal jaren dat hele gedoe.

Moet zeggen dat ik t een verademing vind dat t niet meer zoals heel vroeger zo is datwerkelijk àlles maar dan ook àlles met de kerstdagen gesloten was, ja behalve die Rooms Katholieke Kerk natuurlijk , waar je beide dagen naar toe moest naar die mis..Verder thuis uitgebreid at en n stuk in de bossen ging wandelen omdat je zo ongelooflijk zat te hangen en te eten met de Feestdagen.Al die Kerkelijke toestanden op tv, en de jaarlijkse terugkerende zaken steeds maar weer,t Skischans springen is er overigens nog steeds jaarlijks op 1 januari..Maar oh zo blij dat er nu iig meer keus bestaat dat er veel dingen geopend zijn.Vroeger was dat allemal een schande, dat kòn absoluut niet met de feestdagen. Iedere familie vierde t met hun eigen familie, not done om mensen met Kerst lastig te vallen!! .

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 23:48:45 +0000

In reply to Alanna. Thanks, Alana!

By: Alanna

Alanna — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 19:26:30 +0000

Interesting how Christmas differs between two tradtioanlly Christian nations … great post!

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:18:10 +0000

In reply to Cathy Sweeney. Wow, that sounds like great fun: spending each Christmas in a different country! Since we don't have any family obligations at Christmas, maybe we should start doing the same!

By: Cathy Sweeney

Cathy Sweeney — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:47:05 +0000

Enjoyed getting your perspectives about Christmas in the Netherlands and sorry to hear it’s going the way of our American Christmas. For the past several years, my husband and I have been kicking off the holiday season in Europe – learning about and experiencing different traditions. It would be a shame to lose the distinct characteristics of Christmas in different countries and regions.

By: Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

Michele {Malaysian Meanders} — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 07:22:19 +0000

I didn’t realize that Sinterklaas and Santa Clause are so different or that then whole reindeer and sleigh story isn’t an international one. The way you describe how it used to be in the Netherlands seems so appealing, and I can understand your dismay that it’s getting over commercialized. When I lived in Malaysia where only 10% of the population is Christian, I was surprised by how much the stores promoted it. I guess they’re grabbing opportunity where they can. As for how it is in America, I will admit that I hauled gifts for 22 people to my hometown. So many cousins, aunts and uncles to see! I’m trying to think of a way to scale back without everyone criticizing me.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 20:39:45 +0000

In reply to Marcia. I don't celebrate Christmas, so the day itself usually involves watching movies and reading. I love reading about Christmas in other places. My Australian friends post about annual Christmas barbeques on the beach! That sounds like my kind of Christmas!

By: Marcia

Marcia — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:02:17 +0000

I’m with you, Rachel. I’ve come to hate how commercialized Christmas has become. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remember why we celebrate. When I returned to work on the day after Thanksgiving, I was amazed to see Christmas decorations were everywhere! An older woman at work lamented the fact that stores no longer sell Thanksgiving gifts, instead stocking their shelves with Christmas gifts almost right after Halloween.
Can you imagine how Christmas plays in Jamaica? Like most people, we always placed lights on a tree near our house but I’ll never forget years ago, when I spotted a silver Christmas tree with snow (cotton balls) in the living room of a house. I still feel sad when I think about it, about how ridiculous it was, how easily we’re willing to swap our traditions for someone else’s.
Hope you had the kind of Christmas you wanted, Rachel. Wishing you and your family peace and joy in the New Year.

By: Rachel Heller

Rachel Heller — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 08:04:28 +0000

In reply to budget jan. Sounds like a good plan! Judging by the crowds at supermarkets in December, an awful lot of money gets spent on food!