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| Sunday, 11 December 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Early X'mas for Dutch children December 5 was the most exciting day of the year for children in the Netherlands. On this day, the feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the city of Amsterdam, was celebrated with great pomp and pageantry. It is known as St. Nicholas' Day. When children go to bed on the eve of St. Nicholas' Day, it's customary for them to put their shoes near the fireplace. During the night, St. Nicholas is believed to ride his big grey horse over the roof-tops, followed by his faithful servant Black Peter who carries a sackful of presents and sweets. Well-behaved children can expect Peter to drop some nice presents for them down the chimney and into the waiting shoes. Those who have a record of misdeeds are sure to be disappointed. This legend may sound familiar to children in other Western countries and even in our own. It is because they all think that St. Nicholas and Santa Claus are one and the same person. The stamp of the Netherlands shown above is of a series of stamps issued by that country to mark the occasion. It shows St. Nicholas being greeted by a little girl waving a flag. The stamp is of 4+4 cents value with the additional four cents going to a welfare fund for needy children. This particular stamp along with some others were issued 44 years ago. - Francis P. Gunasekera |
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