All you need to know about the Dutch 'surprise'. 

As always, during the first days of December, everyone in The Netherlands celebrates the Saint Nicolas or Sinterklaas festival.
Inevitably all kids grow up but still want to join in the festivities. Adults and teenagers who do not believe in Sinterklaas anymore, still participate in the Sinterklaas festivities. They do it with a more appropriate approach while still maintaining the fun, using Surprises. (pronunce: Surpreeses)

Surprises are personally crafted items that are gifted to one another, but it's not as simple as that. Mostly the idea behind the gift is to play a prank, or make fun of, the recipient in good humor and, it's important to mention, that no one is trying to offend anyone in the process. This is intended to keep the 5th of December filled with fun, laughter and a possible sense of minor humility.

It all kicks off with the announcement of the festivities as the "Sint" arrives in The Netherlands. Social groups, like fraternities, sports clubs, colleagues families etc., will hold a lottery to determine who is making a surprise for whom, giving each participant around 3 weeks to prepare their masterpiece. ( it's called Lootje trekken)  Very often, the recipient has no idea that they are getting a surprise or who from, making it a lot more fun? 

4 characteristics that make a good surprise.

2. Great care is given to the process of crafting the surprise and the creators strive to gift a professionally wrapped item. Not only is the quality of the wrapping or packaging often admired but it is also intended to conceal their actual gift, making for a treasure-hunt-like unwrapping experience.

3. For those who are less creative and artistic there is always the under rated shoe box. Although it is considered the "get out of jail free card" in the world of surprises, you are still obliged to add something of your own personal creation which is expected to take the shape of a poem. Due to the lack of creativity, the poem has to not only ridicule the recipient, but the artistic skills, or lack thereof, of the gifter. The practice is all in good spirits and intended to slow down the unwrapping process.

4. Some gifters go all-out and go as far as baking a cake to use as packaging, hiding the gift inside it. As you can imagine, this really makes for an interesting, messy and entertainingly humorous unwrapping experience.3. 

The celebration of Sinterklaas with surprises is one of joy and laughter. Anything that adds to the laughter will be very well received by the group as a whole.
During the evening of the festivities, the gifting and unwrapping is usually interluded with snacks and drinks which are enjoyed together while discussing the gifts and having a laugh. The real magic behind the festival is to rekindle powerful feelings of child-like and carefree fun and every effort is made to encourage it.
From the moment that he disemabarks the steam ship that ferries him all the way from Spain to The Netherlands, children everywhere start their preparations. They place a shoe, either next to the front door, or the fireplace and fill it with treat for Sinterklaas and his helpers like a carrot for his horse, a beer for a Piet and a drawing or letter for the man himself, all with the anticipation of being rewarded with sweets and snacks in return.
The "Sint", as he is locally known, celebrates his birthday on the 5th of December and dedicates the event with the children.
More about that in our previous blog: 5 things to know about the Dutch and Flemish feast of Sinterklaas (Saint- Nicholas) which you can find here: https://www.learn-dutch-online.eu/l/a5-things-to-know-about-the-dutch-and-flemish-feast-of-sinterklaas-saint-nicholas/

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