Sinterklaas Ornament

December 5, 2023 / 0 comments

Sinterklaas 2023

Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;

  • Deuteronomy 6:14

But didn’t you drive out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.

  • 2 Chronicles 13:9

My wife introduced me to Sinterklaas.  She liked the cookies.  The Germans also have a celebration near the beginning of the month of December, usually the fifth, for a gift exchange.  This leaves the Christmas celebration more somber, more religious, and less commercial.  From those aspects, I like the Sinterklaas celebration.

But the entire thing about Sinterklaas, Santa Claus, Saint Nick, or whatever other names, it can become its own religion.

I had a lot of heartburn with Santa Claus in that the boys were totally into the “jolly old elf” and they could care less about the baby Jesus.

I know of many Christians that do not celebrate Santa Claus, or any other name for him.  They keep the holiday exclusively a religious holiday.  It is a nervous tightrope that each parent has to travel on their own.

But I may still have chocolates in my wooden shoes to present to my Sunday school class, and the podiatrist the next day.  He may even ask me if I can actually walk in them.  I may have to demonstrate, but only after the candy is removed.  In Holland, it is usually spekulatias cookies (my wife said spekulaas) in the shoes.  The children put a carrot or some hay in the shoes for the white horse.  They receive the cookies, a chocolate letter (their initial), and maybe one toy – not overboard like in the USA.

I miss my wife, but I might not miss Sinterklaas.  I do not worship.  I just have a bit of fun.

Here is an off beat explanation of Sinterklaas.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.

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