We're deep into the Autumn here in Holland..."wintertijd" (what we call Daylight Savings Time back home) is here. True "herfstweer" (fall weather) has arrived and darkness comes early. Having grown up in Canada, I am used to some pretty harsh winters. Fall/winter here is different. I'm used to bright, crisp, cold days. It can be truly freeeeeeezing sometimes where I grew up, but if there is at least sunlight, I find that ok. Here, a crisp sunny day is definitely a rarity. Winter consists more of rainy, windy weather. The Dutch have a word for the bone-chilling cold that comes from the humid, wet weather..."waterkoud". I find it to be pretty fitting.
What comes along with this time of the year, is the Sinterklaas craziness. This catches me off guard every year...suddenly there are kids running around town in their little pietepakken with their black faces, crushed pepernoten all over the streets etc, etc. Because I haven't grown up around this holiday, I find myself every year being a little taken aback by all the celebrating. Yesterday there was a parade of marching bands, floats etc. just outside my house and it seemed like the whole town was out to celebrate the arrival of Sinterklaas.
