The 5th of December is an exciting day for Dutch children, because Sinterklaas is celebrating his birthday today. But instead of getting presents himself, this white-bearded, red-suited old chap hands out gifts to every Dutch child tonight. And as he rides his white horse over the rooftops, he doesn’t forget about Dutch children living abroad either. They too get a visit from the kind-hearted man who treats them to chocolate letters.

This centuries-old holiday is so loved by Dutch people that the tradition survives among many expats who moved abroad years ago. This creates some curious scenes - Sinterklaas riding an elephant in New Delhi or arriving by boat at the Gateway of India in Mumbai - leaving Indian passers-by baffled.

Though Dutch people care a lot about the Saint from Spain who visits them every year, over time they have got some facts mixed up about this holiday. The way Sinterklaas is celebrated today is quite different from how it started centuries ago.

The facts
Saint Nicolas, from whom Sinterklaas got his name, doesn’t actually come from Spain, but Myra. This was the capital of a region in what is now Turkey.

According to legend, the bishop died on 6 December in the year 342. So we’re actually remembering him by celebrating the anniversary of his death rather than his birthday.

Before the Second World War, children would receive gifts on the night of 6 December, but this tradition has slowly shifted to a day earlier.

Other misconceptions concern Black Peter, Sinterklaas' 'helper' with controversially black-up faced. The original Sinterklaas didn’t have any helpers. The Moorish servant made his first appearance in a children’s book written in 1850 by a teacher Jan Schenkman. Amidst criticism that Black Peter is a racist stereotype, his black face is now sometimes explained away as coming from the soot in the chimneys he slides down to bring children presents.

Schenkman's book was actually the basis for a lot of beliefs that shaped the holiday celebrated today. For example the idea that Sinterklaas comes from Spain by boat stems from Schenkman. The book portrayed Sinterklaas as a distinguished old man with his jolly helpers running a mock.

Now you know
If you see an elderly man with strange looking helpers walking through the street on a December day, you now know what is going on. And maybe this time you can tell the Dutch a bit about the true background of their much-loved holiday.