Happy Sinterklaas!
구미에서는 크리스마스가 가장 큰 명절인데, 북미와 유럽 (일부 지역)에는 크리스마스 전에 그 분위기를 더해 줄 연말 명절이 하나씩 더 있다. 11월 넷째 주 목요일에 있는 ‘추수감사절’은 미국과 캐나다에서 지내는 명절이고, 12월 6일에 유럽에서는 ‘신터클라스 (쌩 니꼴라)’를 지낸다. 신터클라스는 네덜란드 판 산타클로스를 알려져 있는데, 신터클라스가 현대의 상업화된 산타클로스의 원조라 하겠다. 자세한 설명은 위키피디아를 참조하시길.
크리스마스에 이브가 있듯이 신터클라스에도 이브가 있어서 이 날 가족들과 함께 시간을 보내는 것이 주 행사인데, 어제 출근했더니 책상에 신터클라스 초콜릿(사진)이 놓여져 있었다. 높이가 약 30cm 되는 밀크 초콜렛인데, 초콜릿을 별로 좋아하지 않는데다 빠리에서 먹은 고추장+고춧가루 양념 음식에 장이 놀랐는지 설사를 계속 하고 있는지라 당분간 신터클라스 초콜릿을 먹을 일은 없을 듯.
In the West Christmas is the biggest holiday, and in North America and some parts of Europe they both have another holidays before Christmas, which give pre-festive moods. Americans and Canadian celebrates ‘Thanksgiving Day’ on the fourth Thursday of November and Some Europeans celebrates ‘Sinterklaas (Saint Nicolas in French)’ on the 6th of December. Sinterklaas is often known as Dutch version of Santa Claus, but it is Sinterklaas that is the origin of modern age’s commercialised Santa. You can read further about Sinterklaas at wikipedia.
As Christmas, Sinterklaas Day also has its Eve and this is an occasion of family’s gathering. When I went to work yesterday, there was Sinterklaas chocolate (see photo) on my desk. Its height is about 30 cm. In addition to the fact that I don’t like chocolate very much, as I’ve been suffering from diarrhea, which I think was caused by the sudden digestion of kochujang (chilly pepper paste)+kochutkaru (chilly pepper powder) I had in Paris and thus some startlement to my intestines, I don’t think I will have this chocolate for the time being.
시은:
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 내가 있었으면 그 쵸코레또 하루만에 사라졌을 텐데 말야!!
7 December 2008, 5:19 amElisabeth:
I hope you’re feeling better! We celebrate St. Nick’s day in our region of the US, too. I think it must have to do with all the Scandinavian and German roots in our state. In our tradition, kids get a few small toys or candy left in their shoes. In my family we were given a small toy or dated ornament each year.
11 December 2008, 3:56 amSunkyoung:
시은 – 그러게나 말이유. 그 이후로 속이 정상으로 돌아와서 신터클라스의 머리 부분을 뎅겅 베어 먹었다는…
Elisabeth – By the time you left a message, I had got much better and now back to normal. St. Nick’s Day, that’s what you meant in one of your previous post! I think having their own ornament as a child is a really special thing and I ccould see the excitement of N & E. Given the huge amount of snow in your city, I have no doubt why (at least) Scandinavian ancestors settled in the region. They couldn’t imagine the winter without lots of snow!
20 December 2008, 2:46 pm