Sinterklaas and zwarte Piet

Inthe Netherlands they celebrate a holiday on dec. 5th called sinterklaas. It revolves around Saint Nicholas and his helpers zwarte Piet (black peter) who go down the chimney delievering presents... The kids leave carrots and water for sinterklaas' horse, and watch a tv show everyday at school from nov. 23 (when he arrives in holland from Spain) until dec. 5...

I was able to go to the parade and see him arrive in Haarlem on his boat....

The crowd awaits...

The boat..

 Zwarte Piet

This all made me want to decorate for Xmas ... 

And Haarlem didn't stay far behind...