Rie Cramer: The good Saint Nicolas (1929)

(Unknown)

Today is the start of the Saint Nicolas feast in The Netherlands. Saint Nicolas (patron saint of children) then comes by a steamboat to The Netherlands from Spain, together with his faithfull compagnion Zwarte Piet (or 'black pete'). Children leave their shoe before going to bed and sing songs. In return Saint Nicolas and Zwarte Piet leave candy and presents behind in the shoes of the children. This feast is celebrated in The Netherlands for more than 700 years and is one of our most popular holidays. This picture from Rie Cramer shows the good saint together with zwarte piet. Drawing from 1929.