HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-21, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017.
Presents can wait with the Baans
Traditions new and old
The Baan family of Walton has incorporated traditions from matriarch Monique's past, growing
up in Holland, as well as new ones from their lives in Canada. There isn't, however, a rush for
the tree in the Baan house, as through the years the children have always known that they
have to wait. From left: Adam, Monique, Don, Emma and Ryan. (Photo submitted)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Christmas at the Baan house in
Walton has changed over the years,
but as Monique said, that isn't
always a bad thing when it comes to
the holidays.
Monique, who immigrated from
Holland in 1980, says that the
holidays were very different for her
growing up in the Netherlands.
However, adopting new traditions in
a new country has made for an
interesting transition.
As a child, Monique celebrated
the feast of Sinterklaas on Dec. 6,
which is tied to St. Nicholas. The
holiday operates very much like
Christmas in North America, where
gifts are given on St. Nicholas' Eve
(the evening of Dec. 5). Sinterklaas
also looks a lot like Santa Claus,
although his wardrobe denotes more
of a parochial figure similar to a
Cardinal or the Pope in the Catholic
Church. He does, however, have the
abundant white hair and long beard
reminiscent of Santa Claus.
Sinterklaas, in this day and age, is
not without his controversy, as he is
aided by many "Zwarte Piet", which
is translated to Black Pete. They are
said to have come from Spain during
the raids of the Moors and are
typically depicted with colourful
dress and black face, which has
made them controversial and incited
protests, at times, when Christmas
rolls around.
The festivities associated with the
holidays begin on the first Saturday
after Nov. 11 in Holland, which is
when Sinterklaas is said to "arrive"
in the country from Spain.
Baan said she remembers taking
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part in the holiday celebrations in
Holland. The night before the
holiday, she and her siblings would
put out their wooden clogs by the
fire. In the morning, she and her
siblings would find that Sinterklaas
would have visited and filled their
shoes either with candy or with coal,
depending on how well-behaved
they had been over the course of the
year.
The festivities don't end there,
however. In Holland, many
Continued on page 16
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