Not only does Christmas look different all over the world it's celebrated differently too. We've been fortunate during our two Christmas seasons in Aix to celebrate and experience the holiday internationally.One December night we were invited to a Dutch Christmas celebration where we met Sinta Claus and his helper, Zwart Piet, or "Black Peter". Sinta Claus day is the 5th of December in Holland and it's then, not the 25th, that good Dutch boys and girls get their presents. As our Dutch friends explained, they give gifts on the 5th and reserve Christmas for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. What a wonderful tradition!
Sinta Claus definitley looks different than our traditional Santa Claus. He's slimmer and more religious looking with his tall hat with the cross and long red robe. As for his helper, Black Pete, he has black curly hair and a black face. I checked out the origins of this decidedly politically incorrect 'elf' and they are disputed. Some say his face is black because he climbs down chimneys to deliver presents. Others trace a link back to the black Moorish slaves who served the Spanish when they were colonial masters of the Nethedrlands. Whatever his origin, he helps Sinta Claus and normally gives out a special type of Dutch cookie to the children. They are tiny, round, crunchy and cinnamon-tasting. I read that the Dutch children normally bring their own bags to fill them with these cute little cookies when they go to see Sinta Claus.
The two Dutch families who organized this fun evening put a lot of time into the costumes and the performance. Each guest got to sit on Sinta Claus' knee and have him tell them of something bad they'd done that year...but he gave us each a gift and some cookies anyway!!
Hanneke and Linda, wives of Sinta Claus and Black Peter, relaxing after a job well done!
We went to a Spanish party on the 15th. It was an authentic Spanish evening even if it wasn't exactly celebrating their traditional Christmas. The sangria, tapas, paella and the flamingo dancers were all fantastic!
On December 25th, we had an opportunity to celebrate Christmas Dinner with our French friends, Denis and Bettina Lucas-du-Reau and their children. They invited us to their house at one o'clock and after bisous all around, we celebrated the occasions with an an aperitif made by Denis' family called Pineau des Charentes. Pineau is made from a blend of unfermented grape must and Cognac brandy. It is delicious!
When we all sat down for dinner, our first course was two types of fois gras served with toasts and more Pineau, yum! The main course was Duck Confit with roasted apples, haricots verts, chestnuts and pommes frittes(a course added to the menu by their children and appreciated by children of all ages at the table!). After this, we had a cheese course! We had to forgo the While we sat at the table, we were treated to Waldemar play a Mozart piece...
Afterwards, we moved into the living room where we rolled up the rug and danced!! We think Bettina and Denis could win a dance contest! Their oldest son, Eymeric, knows a thing or two about being on a dance floor, too!
Lindsey, Sarah and Capucine were quite content to be observant but lovely wallflowers....
until Nicholas was finally able to convince Capucine to dance with him...
All the dancing was followed by some less energetic activities... chatting inside for the women and target practice outside for the men in the group!
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