Sinterklaas

plural Sinterklaases

1. Saint Nicholas in a folkloric incarnation, who (in the Low Countries and other parts of Europe) gives presents to children on December 5 or 6.

   Freddie filled his plate with white and chocolate Christmas trees, Sinterklaases, and dogcarts.

   1949, Laura Lee Hope [pseudonym], “Freddie in the Sand”, in The Bobbsey Twins in Tulip Land, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC, page 113

   3 more examples

   To many Dutch people, the Anglo-American Santa is a pale imitation of the authentic Sinterklaas.

   1992 December 20, Andrew Kelly, “Dutch Santa, Authentic Sinterklaas, Faces Challenge From Anglo-Saxon Interloper”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 May 2025

   The Dutch Black Petes are more fun, and thus more popular, than the staid saint they serve, and in the festive weeks before Sinterklaas returns to Spain (that’s where he lives, according to tradition) they show up everywhere, from schools to shops to company parties.

   2013 November 4, Sally McGrane, “The Netherlands Confronts Black Pete”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Sep 2014

   Black Pete and Sinterklaas also conspire to form a punitive team. In the traditional holiday songs, Sinterklaas brings gifts for good boys and girls; naughty children get a spanking with Black Pete’s bundle of twigs.

   2013 December 4, Arnon Grunberg, “Why the Dutch Love Black Pete”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Dec 2013