Seasonal Letter 08. Saint Nicolas Day, or Sinterklaasfeest in Belgium

16/12/2025

December 6th, the day all Belgian kids have been waiting for
Colorful sweets and special presents
Sinterklaas has come to your house!

From ancient times, Japanese people have been enjoying the seasonal beauty and following the rythm of nature through a cup of tea. This little series of Toridori's seasonal letter was born to bring — a little spoonful of — seasonal beauty and nature's rythm into our life.

I have been featuring several Japanese festivals, but this time I pick probably the most famous and popular (and definitely important for kids) festival of Belgium: the Saint Nicolas Day, or "Sinterklaasfeest" in Flanders.

This year I got a chance to see Saint Nicolas and his assistant Zwarte Piet coming on boat on the canal by the southwest of Mechelen, from the direction of Antwerp. Soon after they were welcomed by many children from the nearby school; it was very heart-warming and I felt so lucky to witness that happy moment.

The first Sinterklaasfeest for me was in 2017, it was right after coming back from my field trip in Madagascar (back then I was a PhD student at KU Leuven and Madagascar was my field site). After Malagasy sunshine summer, Belgian December felt super dark and cold for me. But that day when I came home, I saw something special on our dining table. Colorful sugar cookies, mandarin, and the chocolate & speculoos "Sinterklaas". Together there was a hand-written memo: "For Erina, because you were a good girl. Sinterklaas". It was my partner who made this lovely surprise. And he was successful — my somewhat depressive winter mood was blown away and changed to happy & festive!

Since then, this happy festival became our small "family tradition".

What is your family tradition for Saint Nicolas Day?

Erina

TORIDORI SEASONAL LETTER 08.

Saint Nicholas Day, or Sinterklaasfeest in Belgium

Toridoriの季節便り

ベルギーの聖ニコラウスの日

2025 November 28 - December 16

"Sinterklaas kapoentje, leg wat in mijn schoentje..."

You already know what I am writing about this time, I suppose?

Our seasonal letter this time is featuring, probably the most important festival for Belgian kids this time: Saint Nicolas Day (Sinterklaasfeest in Dutch).

One present on December 6th from Sinterklaas and another on December 24th (Santa Claus). It's a secret between you and me that I actually felt jealous for Belgian kids!

Sweet Spanish mandarins, and carots in the shoes for his white horse. Soon he will come to the houses of good kids to place nice presents in their shoes.

For me as an already grown up, this day is a fun day to buy tasty speculoos and chocolate Sinterklaas & Zwarte Piet. What to pair with? Of course, my favorite black tea!