The Pagan origin of Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas does not come from Spain! But where does he come from? In this blog, we take you on a journey to discover Sinterklaas, the origin of the story, and what we can learn from him about our culture and ancestors. 

Have you been good? You'll find out in this blog.

The story of Sinterklaas is a complex phenomenon that likely originates from the merging of various festivals and traditions that have developed over thousands of years. While some elements of this tradition are clearly traceable, others remain speculative. The American Santa Claus is a direct derivative of Sinterklaas, so his story is inextricably linked to the Sint. The Bavarian Krampus ritual is also closely related to Sinterklaas. 

Sinterklaas is publicly welcomed. This may have its origins in the Proto-Indo-European principle of hospitality, which was important among all Indo-European peoples. In various Scandinavian stories, hospitality (the Indo-European ghósti-principle) is emphasized, such as in Grímnismáll and Hávamáll. 

The modern Saint Nicholas shows many similarities with the Old Norse god Odin (Germanic: Wodan). Odin had more than 170 nicknames and was the god of wisdom, kingship, and knowledge, but also of death, war, and battle. Odin and Wodan were not 100% the same; there are aspects of Odin that Wodan did not have and vice versa.

Odin is often depicted with a long beard. He wields his spear Gungnir (Sinterklaas Staff) and is disguised with a cloak and wide hat (comparable to the cloak and miter of Sinterklaas). 

He is often accompanied by the wolves Geri and Freki, predators with an insatiable hunger. The ravens Huginn and Muninn see everything, allowing Odin to know everything. He rides on a gray horse, the eight-legged Sleipnir, which can both walk and fly (over the rooftops). 

Odin is also the master of poetry and the runic script (hence the writing of Sinterklaas poems).

Like Saint Nicholas, Odin is not malevolent. He was involved in the creation of the world and gave life to the first two humans, Ask and Embla. He has given humans knowledge and writing. 

Odin consults the embalmed head of Mímir, who predicts Ragnarök and urges him to lead the mythological dead warriors, Einherjar, before he is defeated by the fierce wolf Fenrir. Therefore, he, the supreme god, leads his raging, violent army of the dead, to defeat chaos and restore the cosmic order, allowing daylight to return to the earth.

This myth is possibly the origin of the Wild Hunt, which is often interpreted as Odin's army of the dead. The Wild Hunt likely took place somewhere between Halloween (Álfablót) and Christmas (Yule),  when the days are at their shortest and nature is dead and dark. Traces of the Wild Hunt can especially be seen in the German-speaking regions, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, and Scandinavia. See more about the Wild Hunt in this article. 

During these cold winter days, you feel Ragnarok approaching. Fortunately, Odin comes with his warriors to ward off the evil, but beware: He does not tolerate any naughty children!

It is unclear whether the Wild Hunt, if it was commemorated at a fixed time at all, was originally a children's festival, or not at all. Possibly it was a moment of reflection even for adults.

The Germanic society was oath-bound. Actions, and the choice between good or evil, had consequences. This was made clear from a young age.

Parents protected their children with agreements, through which they learned their boundaries and social obligations. They were rewarded if they were good and adhered to these agreements.

Naughty children did not keep their agreements and thereby created chaos and imbalance. This invoked the wrath of Odin and his army upon them.

When a child of a higher class was old enough, he became a member of a warband, the kóryos. With this group of youths, he attacked neighboring tribes and stole their cattle. They came face to face with wild animals. Instead of fearing that the army of the dead would come for him, he himself went in search of the Wild Hunt, and became part of it.

It is possible that children had to prove no longer being afraid by visiting the graves of their ancestors and taking back a grave gift, which had been placed there during Álfablót by the adults. This could establish a connection between the Wild Hunt and gift-giving during Sinterklaas, but this is speculative.

The original 'Pieten' were therefore not colonial slaves, but new members of Odin's warband. They were berserkers, ulfheðnar, and jǫfurr who had single-handedly killed a bear, boar, or wolf. Also, the name of one of Sint's helpers in Germany, Ruprecht, literally means 'radiant with glory', which hints at a different role than that of a simple servant.

But why black? These warbands gained their status in society by raiding cattle from enemy tribes. Like the Germanic Harii, they possibly fought at 's night, fully black painted. The black colour served as a practical disguise and emphasized the heroic deeds of the band.

In many other Indo-European cultures, we also find figures who are (partially) black painted, often dressed with horns or animal skins, to welcome the new year. The Krampus is a well-known example of this, but similar traditions exist in Greece, France, England, and even in Persia (Iran). The soot-smeared faces symbolize not only death but also fertility. Their animalistic appearance reflects a rite of passage associated with the kóryos.

Throughout history, the character we now know as 'Piet' has been continuously adapted. Nowadays, he is often associated with the slavery past, due to his black makeup, curly hair, red lips, and earrings. However, it seems that Piet originally had a very different meaning and was not connected to colonial history.

We all know that gifts do not just come through the chimney. You receive these from friends and in return, you give gifts. By giving presents, hospitality, and poems, you maintain the cosmic order. 

We wish you a wonderful Sinterklaas! Visit our gift page if you are looking for meaningful gifts to give.