Christmas with Ratianda Travel

Well what do you know... It's finally here! Christmas is here! In just a few hours we're counting down to Christmas of 2009! Then a week later it's the New Year! Believe me as I say this, we have lots of updates coming to you in 2010! But let's back-track a lil'... 

As the main blog editor of Ratianda, Inc aka Sabrina; I would cordially love to wish you a very Merry X'mas and a warm hug to you from the heart! Do keep in touch with us more often, that'll be the best gift we could have from all of you! 

For now, our Columnist of Ratianda would like to share some interesting experience with you guys out there! Especially to those (like me-unfortunately) who would luuurrrve the idea of SNOW for Christmas.

Columnist of Ratianda : Hey guys, I'm going to write something over the snow here. You see, for us in Alphen aan den Rijn, Holland; This will be the first "White Christmas" in 5 years. Today we had a heavy snow fall. There are some pictures taken in front of my house. 

Some of the neighbors are busy making snowman with buckets of snow for kids that seems to have some mischief's up their sleeves (like trying to cover up the main door with snow!). 

There's also a picture of me with a Mr. Snowman dressed in Amsterdam shawl and in our backyard, notice the snow on our garden table, its about 12 inches high/thick (either ways). 

Don't miss another view of "Snowman" at our neighbors drive-in. Its 4.40pm and its getting dark, yet, it's really absolutely and amazingly beautiful outside, white all over!

However, having about 12 inches of snow since this morning definitely caused all the trains and buses to stop running and yes, when people go to the alps for skiing, they need chains for their vehicle to get there (the alps) but to go to town and on the highway our kind City Council sprinkle salt over the road. Sometimes it doesn't help because the snow fall is too heavy but it's the thought that counts. 

And Christmas is all about giving and receiving and to celebrate love with families and friends. It is also the day we celebrate baby 'Jesus' in our hearts; Our creator and our forgiver. 

And with this, I wish all of you out there a very merry and blessed Christmas! Take care and do catch up with us for more. See ya!

St. Nicholas & Black Peter

Check this out! Coming to you straight from Holland! Our sweet Columnist of Ratianda brings you St. Nicholas and his Black Peters.

St. Nicholas is initially from Spain and even now on the 3rd December he comes with his Black Peters "from Spain" (not anymore but the young kids still believe it that way).

Taken 5th December 2009

The True Story of St. Nicholas

The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is an annual event which has been uniquely Dutch and Flemish for centuries. St. Nicholas' Feast Day, December 6th, is observed in most Roman Catholic countries primarily as a feast for small children. But it is only in the Low Countries - especially in the Netherlands - that the eve of his feast day (December 5th) is celebrated nationwide by young and old, christian and non-christian, and without any religious overtones.  It so happens that the legend of St. Nicholas is based on historical fact. He did actually exist. He lived from 271 A.D. to December 6th, 342 or 343. His 4th century tomb in the town of Myra, near the city of Anatolia in present-day Turkey, has even been dug up by archaeologists. Towards December 5th, St. Nicholas poems pop up everywhere in the Netherlands: in the press, in school, at work and in both Houses of Parliament.

On the day of the 5th, most places of business close a bit earlier than normal. The Dutch head home to a table laden with the same traditional sweets and baked goods eaten for St. Nicholas as shown in the 17th-century paintings of the Old Masters. Large chocolate letters - the first initial of each person present - serve as place settings. They share the table along with large gingerbread men and women known as "lovers". A basket filled with mysterious packages stands close by and scissors are at hand. Early in the evening sweets are eaten while those gathered take turns unwrapping their gifts and reading their poems out loud so that everyone can enjoy the impact of the surprise. The emphasis is on originality and personal effort rather than the commercial value of the gift, which is one reason why Sinterklaas is such a delightful event for young and old alike. 

It were the Dutch settlers who brought St. Nicholas over to
New Amsterdam - USA.

The Story of Black Peter

Before elves and eight tiny reindeer, St. Nicholas had a much more menacing assistant. Named Black Peter, this companion was the physical opposite of St. Nicholas. Tall and gaunt with a dark beard and hair, Black Peter was associated with the punitive side of Christmas. Traditionally St. Nicholas would hand out presents to good children, while it fell to Black Peter to dole out coal (and sometimes knocks on the head) to children who misbehaved. 

 Today the negative associations have left Black Peter and he has become more of an elf-like figure, an assistant to an overloaded St. Nicholas who helps to hand out gifts every December 5th, St. Nicholas Day in Holland. The Dutch continue to stage elaborate arrivals of Santa Claus and Black Peter. In the weeks before the feast, Santa and Black Peter arrive by boat, supposedly from Spain, and are greeted by ever increasing crowds of excited children and adults. 

Fact Trivia : Do you know the Dutch people celebrate with presents and families get together on this day. Its just like Christmas.