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Ab's postings december 2002

The true story of Santa Claus

25 december 2002

The Dutch celebrate a feast for children that is called "Sinterklaas" on December the 5th. The story goes that Sint Nicolaas comes from Spain with his helpers (who are called "Zwarte Pieten" because of their black faces) on his steamship. He gives presents and sweets to the children that have behaved good. Children that were bad go in the sack thet Zwarte Piet carries and will be deported to Spain.
The origins of Sinterklaas can be traced in a Turkish bishop, who supported poor children. He comes from a town called Myra. It cannot be denied that there are cross-links between Sinterklaas' sweets and the sugar-feast, that is celebrated by muslims at the end of the Ramadan, the fasting period.
Other origins can be found in seafarers stories about Spain and the Moor-culture some senturies back.
The Sinterklaas-feast was brought to America by the Dutch that founded New Amsterdam (that later became New York). In the 1930's the Coca Cola company was looking for something to liven up the Christmas advertizing campaign. The solemn Sinterklaas figure was livened up and became the merry Santa Claus. The rest of the story of Father Christmas is known. Coca Cola still advertizes and the whole world celebrates Christmas with Santa Claus. The Dutch still have their own Sinterklaas-feast and the muslims celebrate their sugar-feast, but it all seems to come together to me....

Merry Christmas to you all!

Herman Krieger Fotografie

01 december 2002

Mijn vriend Herman Krieger woonde vroeger aan de overkant van de straat voordat ik hier woonde. Hij stuurde me een foto van wat brandweerlieden in actie op de Mathenesserlaan. Het moet een paar huizen van mijn huis vandaan zijn geweest. Wanneer was dit? Zijn er mensen die zich deze brand kunnen herinneren? Ik ben benieuwd...

Kijk ondertussen ook eens naar Herman's Foto Essay's op zijn website!

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