What are memories made of?Fragments of colored glass, perfect for life’s grand mosaicPieces of patterned cloth for the patchwork quilt of our earth journeysAnd thick threads, for the tapestries we weave of the world
In it, on the mosaics, atop the quilts and woven into the tapestries,Are people, loved and not,Faces – gorgeous, beautiful, scarred and tannedAnd names, full of meaning and wisdom, in places far and yet undiscovered Memories are nuggets of warmth on a cold dayA lazy stroll through the dusky lanes of our minds and heartsI want all my memories to be happyJoyful, truly worthy to be called remembrances and forget-me-nots
My memories of Sinterklaas span three decadesThey stretch back to a time when I was only waist-high tallAnd when we lived in a world that was easyAnd gilded with the lilies of youthA time when Sinterklaas was to my sisters and I his translated English name ‘Saint Nicholas’And when we called his helpers, colorfully clad with faces the colour of tar, Black Peters 
The streets and avenues of my mind are strewn with peppernoten, kruidnotenAnd pastel-colored candy, hard sweets the pattern of red and white Christmas candy canesAnd the warming spices of autumn and fall – cinnamon, ginger, clovesScents that awaken thoughts in my head
I am a part of all I’ve metGrateful to be a part of all I’ve metMy friendships, conversations, handshakesAnd three kisses, cheek to cheek to cheek I am no longer the ‘me’ I wasThe ‘me’ of twenty seven years agoI am a ‘me’ who celebrates The 4th of July and American Thanksgiving;Attends Canadian Independence BarbequesAnd cries on Nigeria’s Independence DayMy world has been lit by ‘Diwali’ and Scandinavian Santa LuciaWearing Orange in spring is part of my Dutch heritage, as an honorary citizen Sinterklaas this year will be no secret poemsNo exchange of gifts wrapped in Hessian sacksSinterklaas this year will be heads and heartsChock full of memories past
This year, there will be apple cakeSinterklaas’s White horse likes applesThere will be store-bought SpeculaasAnd glasses of (warm) milkThere will be many Sinterklaas songsAnd even a bookAnd by some fortuitous spiritThere will be a handful of authentic bakers KruidnotenFerried by an angel called a colleagueFresh from The Hague 
And just as giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day felt naturalSo does celebrating Saint Nicholas feelOn the 5th of December, at home in Nigeria Memories of the recent pastIntactHand in heart Happy SinterklaasTo our Dutch ‘family’ – real and adoptedAcross the oceans We love you!
Sinterklaas related Posts
Sinterklaas Factfile
Sinterklaas is a Dutch tradition that has been celebrated for at least 350 years, testimony is given by the ‘The Feast of Saint Nicholas’, a painting by the Dutch Master, Jan Steen in 1665. This painting is one of his best and happiest and depicts a family celebrating the feast of Saint Nicholas.
It captures all the tales about Sinterklaas – the communal nature, the gifts or lack of for both good and not-so-good children
What strikes me is the basket of goodies full of biscuits and bread and what looks like a large speculaas cookie.
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[…] with Peppernoten, cousins to Kruidnoten, mini spiced ginger cookies and building a gingerbread house for New Year’s […]
Beautiful read!
I love your stories. All the best to you and your family.
Thanks dear
An early Merry Christmas from me to you and your family before I head overseas tomorrow for a trip to see extended family. Hope your “new home” in Nigeria is treating you well and that all parties are slowly growing comfortable there.
Hope you have a very wonderful time away, with family, friends and food! Nigeria is treating me WELL, I am finally getting the sense of ‘belonging’ I longed for. Stay well and read you in 2012
Oohhh…these look like very fancy versions of our gingerbread cookies. I can smell their delicious spice through my screen.
Thanks. Done with Sinterklaas….on to Christmas! This is the yearly celebration marathon…..its good to have comfort and kindness all round. Love you too.
I love hearing about the people and places that mean something to an individual. What a beautiful post you shared with us. Many blessings, my friend.
Such an absolutely beautiful and heartfelt post. You are so talented. Best wishes to you and your family for the holidays, all of them!
How wonderful that you took Sinterklaas back home with you, Oz! I can still remember your wonderful post from last year! 🙂
This is such a touching post. We didn’t celebrate Christmas growing up so I feel there are some big experiences missing in my life. Reading this gets me motivated to creaye similar memories and experiences for my children.
Beautiful poetry for Sinterklaas. Happy Holidays to you!
Cheers.
Velva
Happy St Nicholas day – it has special memories for me too. My Dad was Polish and my aunt would always bring us sweets saying ‘a strange man stopped me in the street and said these were for you”! Beautiful post.
Happy Sinterklaas. And thank you for your gift of beautiful writing.
Your words are always music to my ears! You have a way to help me see the world around me through the eyes of wonder, memories, history, traditions… as always… love you!
[…] my reason to believe is this: It is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands. I had written a blog post, moaning the lack of Kruidnoten at our Sinterklaas celebrations when a colleague appeared from The […]
Just looking at those cookies bring back childhood memories for me, back when I used to drink milk and dunk the windmill cookies in it. I did show my daughter the Dutch cookies and she brought them to school to share with her classmates. I will be making banket by myself this year, my mom is up in west Michigan during the holiday, but I have her directions.
Have a happy Sinterklaas celebration Oz! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful things!