Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus

• Engels
• MBO
• Voortgezet speciaal onderwijs
• Middelbare school
• Leerroute n2
• Leerroute n3
• Leerroute n4
• Leerroute n1

Saint Nicholas vs Santa Claus

Who was there first?

Sinterklaas

Santa Claus

sleigh

reindeer

Elves

Boat & White horse

presents

Pieten

Chimney

North Pole

Saint Nicholas

What do you know about the Dutch Saint Nicholas tradition?

• In the Netherlands we celebrate Saint Nicholas  
• Saint Nicholas time starts November and he leaves on the 6th of December. On this day we celebrate the tradition 🎂
  
• Saint Nicholas has a white beard and wears red 🔴
  
• Saint Nicholas original name is (Saint) Nicholas
  
• Saint Nicholas works together with his Piets  to deliver presents to the children 🎁

• The Piets wear the colourful costumes of 14th century rich men
  
•  Saint Nicholas often rides his horse Amerigo (now 'Ozosnel') on top of roofs 🐎
•  Saint Nicholas has a book in which all the names of the children are written, and it also says if they’re naughty or nice 📖

• The presents get delivered through the chimneys 
  
• Children place their shoe at the fireplace in the evening, and sing Sinterklaas songs. The next day they’ll find their shoe somewhere else with candy or a toy inside. 👞🧦
• Sometimes children will place hay or a carrot next to their shoe for the horse of Saint Nicholas 🥕
•  The Piets all have a bag filled with candy and spiced cookies called pepernoten 🍬

But where did Saint Nicholas come from?

00:43

Where was Nicholas born?

00:57

Why is the tradition to put our shoe out for Sinterklaas?

01:08

What happened on the 6th of December?

Santa Claus

stocking

Christmas elves

turkey

Christmas tree

crib

Christmas pudding

mince pies

Christmas cracker

chimney

What do you know about Christmas and Santa Clause?

What do Britains call "Santa Claus"?

1. Sinterklaas
2. Santa
3. Saint Nicolas
4. Father Christmas

Who introduced Santa Claus in de United States?

1. The Dutch
2. The English
3. The French
4. The Spanish

What do children in the UK leave for Santa Claus?

1. Brandy and mince pie
2. Whisky and cake
3. Milk and cookies
4. Wine and candy

Who invented modern Santa Claus's appearance?

1. The Church
2. The Pope
3. Coca Cola
4. The President of the United States

How many reindeers does Santa Claus have?

1. 12
2. 8
3. 9
4. 10

• Santa Claus is someone that arrives at Christmas Eve (the night before Christmas)
  
• He has a white beard and is typically big and round
  
• Santa Claus wears a red suit 🔴
  
• Santa’s name is Saint Nicholas
  
• In the UK he is called Father Christmas
• He works together with his elves that create toys in Santa’s workshop
  
• The elves wear costumes that look a little like Peter Pan’s  
• Santa rides a sleigh with eight reindeer, and lands it on people’s roofs

• The presents get delivered by Santa through the chimney
  
• Children will sometimes place a plate of Christmas cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer next to the fireplace 🥕 
• Santa has a naughty or nice list 🧾 
• Children leave their stocking/socks by the fireplace in hopes that Santa will fill them with candy/toys 🧦 
• Santa lives on the Northpole with Mrs. Claus

So... Sinterklaas and Santa Claus are not the same person. Who was there first?

01:02

How did Sinterklaas end up in the USA?

1. They already celebrated Sinterklaas in the USA
2. Someone wrote a poem about Sinterklaas
3. Sinterklaas was a celebrity in the USA
4. They heard Sinterklaas songs

01:45

Odin rode on a horse with eight legs, how is this translated to modern day Santa Claus?

• Two men from New York morphed Sinterklaas in to Santa Claus
  
• Which means, the Dutch Sinterklaas was first! 🏆

And apparently... Santa is real!

You may think of Santa as living at the North Pole. But there is a real Santa Claus who lives in the USA. Watch the video to find out more!

1. First, do the preparation task on your handout.
2. While watching the video, do Task 1
3. After watching the video, do Task 2