Sinterklaas, Saint Nick, and the Identity "Christ-sis"

In this dispatch of the Christmas Chronicles 2025, we must address the "Man in Red" and the "Bishop on the Horse." For the "lovestruck" couple navigating an international romance, the confusion between Santa Claus and Sinterklaas is more than just a name change—it is a study in how we perceive the "Magic of the Season."

The Belgian Bishop (December 6th)

In the Low Countries, the "real" Christmas figure is Sinterklaas. He does not live at the North Pole; he arrives from Spain (historically linked to the Spanish Netherlands). He does not have elves; he has "Sooty Piets." In 2025, the cultural evolution of Zwarte Piet has reached a stable consensus in Belgium, focusing on the "Chimney Sweep" folklore to preserve the magic for children while shedding the controversial imagery of the past.

Sinterklaas is a figure of order and merit. He has a great book where your deeds are recorded. For a child in Brussels, the fear of the "rod" and the hope of the "mandarin oranges" is the defining tension of early December. It is a more "Old World," liturgical tradition that feels distinct from the American holiday.

The American Santa (December 25th)

Then there is Santa Claus—the jolly, corporate-friendly figure we critiqued in Dispatch 6. Santa is about the abundance of the heart. He is the spirit of the "Corporate Grinch" reclaimed. While Sinterklaas is a Bishop of the Church, Santa is a Bishop of the Chimney.

The Identity "Christ-sis" Solved

As I prepare to make the biggest commitment of my life, I realize we are not choosing between these figures; we are merging them. In our home, we will have the "Hush" of the Bishop on December 6th and the "Hustle" of the Saint on the 25th.

The "Christ-sis" is solved when we realize that both figures point toward the same "Why" we explored in Dispatch 1: that the world is a place where "goodness" is noticed, where "magic" is possible, and where a man—whether he is a Saint from the 4th century or a public figure in 2025—will go to great lengths to bring joy to those he loves.

The Writer’s Final Blessing

My Christmas Chronicles continue here, at 9:30 PM on December 25, 2025. The sun has set, the candles are burning low, and the final countdown to 2026 has begun. To my readers: stay whimsical, stay observant, and never let the Corporate Grinch steal your story.

With love from a writer, to her Romeo, and to you all: Merry Christmas.