That delightful
evening has come:
festive season
has begun, but
should it all
be just about the presents?

'Tis the season to be jolly. For us Dutchies that kicks off with celebrating Saint Nicholas, who brings presents for all the Dutch children. On the eve of his birthday. So, that is, indeed, today.

Some in The Netherlands wait with setting up a Christmas tree until 5 Decemeber, the day after 'pakjesavond' or presents evening. When I grew up, Dutch Christmas was about getting together, maybe celebrating Christian religious festivities. But not about presents. We knew that Santa Claus was simply the Americanised version of our Sinterklaas AKA Saint Nicholas. There's a deep historic background there, that has to do with the Dutch and the English fighting colonizer's wars and also with decolonisation. But that's for another time. Somehow, Santa Claus spread his wings back to The Netherlands, and now many, including us, celebrate both. Presents on pakjesavond and presents under the Christmas tree. Throw in a bit of Thanksgiving Black Friday and the entire festive season has been commercialised to death. Whatever we want to tell ourselves, it is all about buying more stuff.

But is that really what matters most? I had a nice conversation with my 12 year old son. I asked him, what he would remember in 30 years: the presents he gets from his grandparents, or the car rides he takes with his granddad, when they drive, have a snack somewhere, and chat for about 2 hours. He knows now already, that it's the drives he will remember.

What about you?

If you like this newsletter, you can help me making more by subscribing to my Hypersub:

Subscribe to Trpplr on Hypersub

Trpplrs are sending ripples of poetry through the world, to make it more fun. As a Trpplr, you will get: & special poetry drops from me and up-and-comin...

https://hypersub.xyz

Poésie de la vie

A little explainer about Sinterklaas