From My Little Hole in the Wall: A Dutch Christmas for Barbie and Ken

Every year as the Christmas season approaches, my dearest friend in The Netherlands, and I, talk about what we'd like for Christmas. We've been exchanging gifts for years and he is usually decorating his home and putting up the "first" tree the second week in November. We both love Christmas and I enjoy spoiling him with dolls and doll outfits for his collection.

He in turn enjoys spoiling me, and I try to make it easy for him by finding things on Ebay since he can have them sent directly to me. This year I knew exactly what I wanted from him. Typically, I'll give him some Ebay links to things I might like to have and let him surprise me. But, this year I felt like a little kid nudging Santa or Sinterklaas in one direction. He got the hint. How more perfect to receive a minty vintage Barbie in Holland outfit from him, to go with the MIB one I bought for Ken!

I was excited, and I'm ever so happy with this generous gift. These costumes are gorgeous!

It was then that I decided that Barbie and Ken needed to bring their Dutch adventures home for Christmas and share the traditions of Sinterklaas with their friends. I really wasn't sure how I'd decorate, as his home looks like a fairyland of American Christmas with Santa Claus, an awesome Disney tree (and two more), nativity creches, and garlands of light and color. So, I asked him what to do. Since he lives a world away, this was maybe the first time I really got to "play dolls" with him. He sent me images of traditional items to decorate with, and has over the years told me about some of their traditions and the parade through town when Sinterklaas arrives.

The Dutch celebrate the Feast of Sinterklaas honoring the life of St. Nicholas, and although St. Nicolas is always shown wearing bishop's attire, the Dutch tend to see him as a kindly old man, rather

than as a Catholic saint.

This is the celebration where children are transformed into Kings and Queens and honored as the bringers of light at the darkest time of the year.

To quote my friend, "Gifts are given on Sinterklaasvond (Sinterklaas Eve), from the time Sinterklaas arrives in our country, which is usually the second week in November."

Children leave a shoe by the fireplace or door so that Sinterklaas and his helper Zwarte Piet (Black

Pete), can leave little gifts and candy in them. "Few children find treats every morning, but the tradition is mostly done once or twice a week in the two weeks leading up to Sinterklaas Eve. After gifts have been delivered on December the 5th, Sinterklaas and his helpers return to Spain where they live."

Why does Sinterklaas come from Spain? Sinterklaas is said to come from Spain, possibly because in 1087, half of Saint Nicholas' relics were transported to the Italian city of Bari, which later formed the part of the Spanish Kingdom of Naples.

In the tradition of Mattel for Barbie, from the early 60s, I made up cardboard pieces from the images he sent to me to decorate the Dream House with. One of the traditional gifts is a chocolate bar in the first initial of your name. I made these up and put a chocolate bar in

both the shoes Ken and Barbie set out. The printed burlap sacks would hold gifts.

I made a flag garland from one of the images he sent to me and in the center, added a beautiful vintage poster of Sinterklaas. The eight flags bear the image of a wrapped gift or the "bishop's hat".

Barbie is holding a box of Droste cocoa for hot chocolate, and Ken is holding a gingerbread cookie in the shape of Sinterklaas.

I added this gorgeous poster to Barbie's wall for the season, showing Sinterklaas on his white horse, Amerigo, and Zwarte Piet assisting with gifts down the chimney, like our Santa Claus. See below for a full view of this beautiful vintage illustration.

A very long time ago, my friend sent me miniature figures of Sinterklaas, Amerigo, and Zwarte Piet. Among these were three other Piet figures, but I chose to only display these three.

If you look closely, you'll see two tiny honeycombs that I made in November for some doll purpose. They are just the right size for Barbie. One is a candle and the other, a girl dressed as a Christmas tree holding two candles. I also included a little Putz House in a light aqua color, that I'd purchased from Etsy for this purpose.

Last year's little tinsel tree is up with the color wheel to the right on the floor. Hard to see, but it is there.

Oh! I forgot to mention one of the most important Dutch Christmas traditions. If you've been a good boy or girl, Sinterklaas remembers you. If not, the bad little children are put into a burlap sack by Zwarte Piet and taken back to Spain.

Next time you watch Miracle on 34th Street, take notice of the little song Kris sings with the Dutch girl. It's all about Sinterklaas. Here is it and the translation in a copy/paste: Sinterklaas kapoentje, gooi wat in mijn schoentje, gooi wat in mijn laarsje, dank u Sinterklaasje. The translation is: Sinterklaas good man, throw something in my shoe, throw something in my boot, thank you Sinterklaas.

When I first thought of doing this, setting up the Dream House for a Dutch Christmas, I intended only to keep it this way until after December the 6th. I love it so much that it's going to stay up all month.

I'm dedicating this journal posting to Menno. Thank you for my wonderful Barbie in Holland Christmas present, and all our years of friendship! Happy Sinterklaas! Twenty more day to Christmas!!

Love, Melissa