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by Ilika Karunaratne

This week our magic carpet takes off to Holland for a peek at their X-mas customs. It is interesting to find out how the birth of Christ, was called Christmas, as Christians all over the world have celebrated it since almost 400 A.D. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'anointed one' which was the title given to Jesus and 'Mass' means religious festival. In many parts of the World, there seems hardly a connection between the story of the birth of Jesus and the way it is celebrated today.

Anneke' Hiltermann, is our guide to Christmas customs in Holland. "We always have two winter Celebrations. The first is St. Nicholas' day on the 5th of December, and the second is on Christmas Eve, which heralds in the birth of the Christ child. From the last week of November, the aura of expectancy is very much alive. With much excitement awaiting the arrival of St. Nicholas.

We can see this on Television, which shows his arrival in the country. This arrival scene is organized in every town and village. Everyone gathers round the television set to watch his arrival in a boat laden with gifts. He wears a long, red robe, is very old and carries a staff in one hand. He is accompanied by a horde of slaves, with their faces painted black, who climb on roofs of houses and throw gifts to children. He also visits schools".

The legendary belief in Holland is that St. Nicholas came from Spain and was inordinately fond of children. His slaves were 'Moors' - thus the faces painted black today. "Children usually put out shoes under the chimney from the day of his arrival. Sometimes they put Carrots or hay in the shoes, which are supposedly for the horse of St. Nicholas. These are in turn filled with gifts by St. Nicholas. Sometimes an uncle dresses up as St. Nicholas to fill the shoes.

We always drink hot chocolate on the 5th as we await the arrival of St. Nicholas in our homes and bake special little cookies called 'Pepper nuts' for the occasion. The 'slaves' throw these into the room and children crawl all over under chairs and tables to retrieve them. We follow this custom till the children of the household are 8 or 9 and still believe in the legends of St. Nicholas".

Another unique custom traditional in Holland sound exciting. About two weeks before the 5th, each household would prepare a container with several straws in it. Each straw would be labelled with the name of a member of the family.

Each one in the family would pull out a straw and the one who pulls the straw is responsible for getting ready a gift for the one whose name is on the straw. "It is the wrapping and presentation of the gift that is important as this usually reflects the taste of the recipient. For instance, I gave someone a bottle of his favourite wine. But because of his penchant for old clocks, it was wrapped in the shape of a clock. We always write a poem with a message to put inside too".

Shops and Homes in Holland are exclusively decorated for St. Nicholas up to the 5th. Everything revolves round is arrival. X'mas Decorations are put up only after the 5th. "We would have a X'mas tree in the garden festooned with lights and stars in the windows. Our nativity scene is usually placed under the tree".

Churchgoers in Holland would start with a midnight mass on the 23rd and then go home to a light, late supper. This is the first time I have heard of midnight mass held on the 23rd of December. "It is probably because the festival of Christmas to us is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So this is to herald this in with the peal of church bells, services and prayers. We have rather heavy meals on the 24th and 25th but the supper after midnight mass is very light, usually a selection of cheeses and crackers, with a glass of wine.

Dutch cheeses are famous for their quality. Our meals on the 24th and 25th are really heavy and festive: meticulously prepared and beautifully cooked - a feast for both eye and palate. We would have several courses; the main course would be Roast Turkey or leg of lamb, Roast potatoes and an assortment of vegetables. The desserts we always have in our home are hot cherries with ice cream. We sing a lot of X'mas carols; sometimes people would travel a long distance to do this in a stable complete with sheep".

In Holland, as elsewhere, today, many people have moved away from the spiritual side and it is more of a celebrations. "We exchange gifts. Sometimes we would spend the 24th with my parents and stay over and repeat this on the 25th with my husband's parents. Some families go for a walk on the beach or in the forest.

If there is snow, we would go skating. Some, who dislike cooking or need a respite from it, have their celebration at a restaurant. We have a lot of candles in our homes and the tree too, would have real candles.

The colour scheme for x'mas varies each year with what is in fashions". Boxing day in Holland is a day of rest. "One's stomach needs a rest from feasting and we would go for an energetic walk. A traditional drink in this season is 'Bishops wine' hot wine with lemon, sugar and cloves." What about new years eve? "We always serve special buns made with flour and yeast, fried and served with a lavish sprinkling of icing sugar'. They are rather heavy but, it is served early in the evening as people return early to their homes that day".

"A Famous comedian appears on T.V. on the 31st December relating amusing anecdotes and witty jokes. People would have friends in, play games, have music and dancing, more and more Champagne now or go to a restaurant. If there is snow; Snowmen and snowballs would be there in abundance. Children in Holland get two sets of gifts; first on the 5th from St. Nicholas and from parents and relatives on the 24th.

Anneke is here with her husband who is at the Ceylon Tobacco Company. She is a professional dog trainer and I was able to ask her advice (although she doesn't work here) about my 18 month old Dobermann, Sasha, who has developed a recent habit of staring into the faces of visitors as if she is challenging them although she is as docile as a lamb, if I put her on a leash.

Anneke said her family will spend X'mas in Switzerland, their previous posting, where they are sure of skiing and a white X'mas.

Below is one of Anneke's recipes.

Pepernotes - Pepper Nuts

Ingredients

250gm flour (self rising)

175gm sugar

pinch salt

1 1/2 dinnerspoon spices: mix of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, orange flavour, galanga 1 dinner spoon milk, 125 gm butter (cold).

Made a pile of the flour with the sugar, salt and spices add the milk in a whole in the middle and spread the butter around (cubes) then cut the butter with a big knife and mix through the flour mix. Then with your hand (cold) make a ball put it in the fridge for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven 175 centigrade. Make little balls size the top of your thumb and spread them over the baking tray. 20 minutes in the oven and: ready, (not too dark)

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