| Christmas In HOLLAND  St
Nicholas arrives early in Holland with his gifts, in November. He
is dressed in Bishop's robes and journeys in a boat with his
helper who is called Black Peter and who wears Spanish clothes. It
is said that the pair live most of the year preparing lists of
presents and writing every child's behavior in a very large book.
Many people go to Amsterdam docks to greet him. He mounts a snow
horse and rides through the streets in a great parade, amid many
festivities.
December 5th is Sinterklass
Eve, and presents are given and received. Farmers
in Holland blow long horns at sunset each evening during the
Christmas period. The horns are blown over water wells which makes
the sound extremely loud. This is done to announce the coming of
Christmas. All Dutch children know
that Sinterklaas lived in Spain, where he spends his time
recording the behavior of all the children in his little red book,
while Piet stocks up on the presents.
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