'At home I cannot really feel Christmas, for Indonesia is predominantly Moslem. But here I sense the excitement for Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet,' says Ita Maiabita, masters' student in Telematics. 'I just don't see why the Dutch celebrate it now; it's not even Christmas yet. How come?'
Relating Sinterklaas to Christmas is a true horror for the Dutch. In their eyes, it is an obviously different holiday. What's the story? Sinterklaas (Saint Nicolas) lives in Spanish capital Madrid together with his joker-like dark-skinned helpers, who all carry the same name 'Zwarte Piet' (Black Pete). Every year he comes to Holland by steamship to celebrate his birthday on the 5th of December, giving pepernoten, chocolate and presents to good children.
Raquel Lopez, research trainee in physics, was stunned when she heard the story. The biggest mystery for her is why Sinterklaas travels from Madrid by steamboat. As a citizen of the city, she cannot help wondering 'What river? They are merely dirty streams of water.'
And the special Sinterklaas candy: 'pepernoten' and 'speculaas'. People will offer them anywhere, Raquel noticed. Although she admits that they are delicious, she wonders why they all contain cinnamon. 'In Spain cinnamon is known to cause erotic excitement,' the Spanish girl muses, 'What do those people want from me?'
Her last words are accompanied by pepernoten thrown into the pub. A white bearded elderly man with a red cape and mitre enters the pub: Saint Nicolas has arrived. To welcome him, the students manage to sing a Dutch Sinterklaas song from a small paper. Two shoe-polish-faced youngsters that accompany the 'Saint' as Black Petes, lead him to the chair on the dancefloor. The Old Man then asks Alvaro Nunoz (student telematics and electrical engineering) to approach him. Alvaro is to sit on his lap, to the audible joy of the other students.
'Well, well, Sinterklaas heard some strange stories about you, Alvaro,' the 'Saint' utters. He learnt that one time Alvaro came back from a party with a glass too much. Green-faced he went straightinto the toilet, not to come out of it several hours later. 'I fell asleep,' the poor Spaniard tries, but in vain. In one swing, Black Pete hangs a plastic toilet seat around Alvaro's neck, including ..... 'Here you have a clean one,' he adds.
After Alvaro, more victims follow, guilty of drunkenness, vanity or doing a strip-tease. As midnight approaches, Sinterklaas's departure is at hand. By then, his moustache decorates his chin. Vaguely he resembles Leon Evers, President of S.M.I.T. Foundation. Still in his role, he sighs 'What an evening! But I will come back to the S.M.I.T. party next year for sure.'
Alvaro Nunoz is to sit on Sinterklaas' map, to the audible joy of the other students.
