Sinterklaas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional figure in Dutch folklore who brings gifts to children on December 5th, celebrated with parades and festive decorations
2. A cultural symbol resembling Saint Nicholas, depicted as a bearded man in bishop's attire, celebrated with cheer and festivities in the Netherlands
3. A celebrated character associated with gift-giving during the holiday season, similar in some ways to Santa Claus, fostering joy among children and communities

Etymology: Sinterklaas is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas, and the Dutch form is itself a contraction of "Sint Nicolaas," with "Sint" meaning "saint" and "Nicolaas" the Latinized Greek name of the fourth-century bishop of Myra. Over the centuries the name was worn down in everyday speech, with the "n" of "Sint" and the "c" of "Nicolaas" softening into the familiar "Sinterklaas" that Dutch children sing about each December 5 and 6. The name's most surprising twist is that it travelled to America in a changed form. Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam brought their Sinterklaas with them, and through English speakers' attempts to pronounce it, the name became "Santa Claus." That makes the English word a doublet of the Dutch one: two forms of the same name, split apart by different language histories yet still tied to a single saint.

Synonyms: Saint Nicholas