Back to Home... Annual Events... 50th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS New Member Borrel Annual Meeting Koninginnedag Belgian Beer Festival Oranje Golf Outing Summer Pool Party Canoe Trip Rijsttafel Dutch American Heritage Day Sinterklaas Holiday Reception   Click on the events above for further info.	Hij Komt..... Sinterklaas will be celebrating his birthday with the NAADV in Gladwyne at our annual party. Join us for a Holland's Biertje or a glass of wine as the children enjoy the Sinterklaas thrill! Sint wishes to offer each child a gift so parents should send a gift for each of their children by November 23 (under $20.00 please). GIFTS MUST BE GIFT WRAPPED and clearly marked with the child's name! Along with your gift, send in the registration form and payment (see flyer mailed to members). Sint is very, VERY busy this time of year, but he has promised to read any e-mails the children of the NAADV send to him before December 8th! So send your e-mails to: sint@naadv.org   Sinterklaas party details, where to send gifts and a registration form will be sent to current members in a flyer. We request that parents DO NOT BRING GIFTS THE DAY OF THE EVENT! Many young children are caught up in the magic of believing in Sint and can be confused when they see parents bringing in wrapped packages. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Due to the usually large turnout, this event is for members only so make sure your membership is up to date! The NAADV cannot accept late registration or unregistered "binnenvallers" at the door. Location: St. Christopher's Church, Gladwyne, PA When: TBA for 2008, 2:00 - 4:30pm Directions to St. Christopher's Church: From Philadelphia - Take the Schuylkill Expressway (Rt. 76) west to the Gladwyne exit. Follow Mill Creek Rd and then go right on Route 23. Go for about half a mile and make a right at the light onto Conshohocken State Road (still Rt. 23). After approx. 1 mile, make a left at the light onto Youngsford Road. Go left at the stop sign onto Righter's Mill Road. The Church is on your right after the school. From King of Prussia: Take the Schuylkill Expressway (Rt. 76) east to the Conshohocken exit. Follow Route 23 east (Conshohocken State Road). After approx. 3 miles, make a right onto Youngsford Road. Go left at the stop sign onto Righter's Mill Road. The Church is on your right after the school. For More Information on this event contact: Deborah Kowal: deborahkowal@yahoo.com or 610-964-8558, or Kathleen Lantz: 610-408-8858.     A Real Dutch Tradition... Sinterklaas is celebrated on December 5th in the Netherlands. About 1600 years ago, Bishop Nicholas lived in Turkey and when he died, he was buried in Spain and became a Saint for all his good deeds. Today, Dutch parents tell their young children that St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas) still lives in Spain together with hundreds of black helpers called "Black Peters" or "Zwarte Pieten". At the end of November, Sinterklaas arrives in The Netherlands by steamer and in many Dutch towns and cities the mayor is there to welcome him. After his arrival, children put out a shoe and every night Sinterklaas rides over the rooftops on his white horse. Zwarte Piet comes down through the chimney to fill the waiting shoes with ginger nuts (pepernoten), sugar animals (suikerbeesten), chocolate frogs and mice, or chocolate letters. Children who have been naughty will find a stick in their shoe. The evening before Sinterklaas' birthday, "Pakjesavond" is celebrated. During this family feast, the children receive presents. The older children and the adults often make surprise presents for each other. In these cleverly wrapped presents there is usually a small poem or rhyme hidden within spoofing the person what they are about. For more about Sinterklaas, try these web sites: www.xs4all.nl/~almekind/sint/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas" www.thehollandring.com/sinterklaas.shtml www.rnw.nl/sinterklaas/index.html ©The Netherlands-America Association of the Delaware Valley