The great festival days were Keestijd, † Nieuwjaarsdag, ‡ Paaschdag,§ and Pinksterfeest. || Christmas was of little importance among the Dutch, for New-Year was the day, and then it was that the right fat, jolly, roistering little St. Nicholas made his appearance, sometimes accompanied by his good-natured vrouw, Molly Grietje. ¶
Should you enter the bouwery on New-Year's Eve, you would see the children gathered round the immense fire-place singing in muffled voices their evening hymns to the good saint, as follows:
"Santa Klaus, goedt heilig man!
Knopyebest van Amsterdam,
Van Amsterdam aan Spanje,
Van Spanje aan Oranje,
En brang deze kindjes eenige graps."
Or,
"Sint Nicholaus, myn goden vriend,
Ik hab u altyd wel gediend;
Als gy my nu not wilt geben,
Tal ik dienen als myn leven." ††
……………….
† Christmas.
‡ New-Year.
§ Easter.
|| Whitsuntide.
¶ Wife.
** " Santa Claus, good holy man!
Go your way from Amsterdam,
From Amsterdam to Spain,
From Spain to Orange,
And bring these little children toys."
†† " Saint Nicholas, my dear good friend,
To serve you ever was my end;
If yon me now something will give,
Serve you I will as long as I live." |
Old Albany