A Colonial Christmas Among the Dutch and Others

New York had one of the largest Dutch populations, for it had once been New Amsterdam, but there were Dutch immigrants scattered throughout the other colonies as well. Like the English, they sometimes held parties and open houses for Christmas. All business normally ceased from St. Nicholas Eve on December 5th until Twelfth Night on January 6th. Dutch children left their wooden shoes beside the fireplace on St. Nicholas Eve. Sinterklass or St. Nicholas would ride in on a white horse and put small presents in the shoes of the good children.

Some of the Dutch preferred attending church services, singing carols, and having quieter family time over the holiday. Many of the different nationalities brought family recipes with them to America, and food was often an important part of celebrations. In fact koekje, the Dutch word meaning "little cake," is where our word cookie originates.

Christmas was also celebrated differently by the different religious denominations. At first the Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians rejected any special Christmas celebrations. The Puritans had stiff laws against such festivities, largely because they associated them with Catholicism. 

The Dutch Reformed, Anglicans or Episcopalians, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic loved to celebrate.

The Dutch and Germans added much to form the Christmas traditions we know today. Tomorrow's blog will cover some of the German celebrations.

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