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It's over again; Sinterklaas Eve! An evening full of fun, chatting and very happy children. Making surprises, long poems and as a big surprise the visit of Sinterklaas. An evening that many children have been looking forward to for weeks, sometimes months. In this blog, Ineke Janssen will tell about her family's Sinterklaas holiday. They celebrated Sinterklaas Eve this year in a very special place...

Hej alla! Jag heter Ineke och är mamma till två pojkar på fem och sju år. I år firade vi Sinterklaas i vårt semesterhus i Moreira. Detta är en mysig gammal spansk fiskeby på Costa Blanca. Vi brukar finnas här två eller tre gånger om året. Naturligtvis har vi inte kunnat göra så mycket i Nederländerna på sistone på grund av omständigheterna vi alla måste leva med nu. Därför tänkte jag och min kompis att det skulle vara skönt att åka iväg några veckor i december för en omväxling i år. Detta är något vi normalt aldrig gör. De senaste åren har vi alltid firat Sinterklaas med hela familjen i Nederländerna. Tyvärr var detta inte möjligt på grund av de åtgärder som vidtogs under Sinterklaas, och det var därför vi bestämde oss för att ta en paus.

Last Friday, December 3, the four of us flew to Alicante. The trip went smoothly. From the airport we drove to our house in Moreira in a rental car. An hour's drive through the mountains and along the coast of the Costa Blanca. This feels like coming home! The sun is shining and with a pleasant temperature of fifteen degrees you won't hear us complaining.

On the way, my sons started asking questions about Sinterklaas. They thought it was strange that we were going to Spain, while Sinterklaas travels from Spain to the Netherlands. Explain that! They also wondered how the Petes could bring their presents all the way to Spain. This is of course no problem, because enough Petes have stayed in Spain especially for the children. They were very happy with this, because of course they are secretly looking forward to the presents.

After a quiet day of relaxing in the house, it was finally time. December 5th. Our sons woke up early and went as quickly as possible to the living room, where they found a trail of gingerbread and candy. They followed the trail to their shoes full of presents and goodies. They were ecstatic that the Pietjes had come by. Full of joy and satisfaction, they played with their new toys all day long. Not knowing that Saint Nicholas and Pieten would visit again tonight. After dinner it was time for the poems that Sinterklaas had written for everyone. In the middle of my youngest son's poem, he was interrupted by a loud bang on the front door. Our little ones of course sprinted as fast as they could to the door to catch a glimpse of Santa and his Pieten, but this was in vain. What they found was a large bag full of presents. We started our holiday evening, overjoyed and surprised, in wonderful Spain!

It was a very successful day and our children loved it. I fear that we now have to be visited by Sinterklaas in Spain every year, which of course Mom and Dad don't mind! Overall, it is definitely recommended to celebrate the holidays in another place for a change. Definitely worth a try!