Netherlands:

In the Netherlands, Christmas is a family celebration, with the gift giving events taking place on December 5th, from Sinterklaas. When the Dutch decorate their tree, there is not much difference from Christmas trees all over the world. There are no set rules in regard to the Christmas dinner, but game, roast pork and meat fondue are popular main dishes.

The Sinterklaas traditions are more widely celebrated than the Christmas traditions. The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is an annual event which has been uniquely Dutch and Flemish for centuries. St. Nicholas' Feast Day is celebrated nationwide by young and old, christian and non-christian, and without any religious overtones. All Dutch children know that Sinterklaas (the name is a corruption of Sint Nikolaas) lives in Spain. Exactly why he does remains a mystery, but that is what all the old songs and nursery rhymes say. Whatever the case may be, he spends most of the year in Spain recording the behavior of all children in a big red book, while his helper, Black Peter, stocks up on presents for next year. In the first weeks of November, Sinterklaas gets on his white horse, Peter ("Piet"), swings a huge sack full of gifts over his shoulder, and the three of them board a steamship headed for the Netherlands. Around mid-November they arrive in a harbor town. Their parade through town is seen live on television by the whole country and marks the beginning of the "Sinterklaas season.”

For more about Sinterklaas, click here.