12/17/2025
🌲In December, residents have been looking at Christmas traditions in other countries. Recently, they looked at Christmas traditions in the Netherlands.
🌲The activity began with images of windmills and their importance to the Dutch livelihood. Next residents marveled at the craftmanship displayed in a variety of wooden shoes. They also learned that designs on wooden shoes often designates which area one is from.
🌲Next came the story of Sinterklaas, the Dutch figure who arrived by boat from Spain, bringing delightful gifts for children on December 5th.
🌲Delft ornaments in the traditional blue and white pattern, remain popular for gift giving. These mini paintings often feature traditional scenes.
🌲Some of the best cocos comes from the Dutch. Residents enjoyed homemade hot chocolate made with a Bensdorp Dutch process cocoa, which brought forth a rich, earthy blend, that was topped off with miniature marshmallows.
🌲Residents viewed the beloved Dutch doughnuts called oliebollens. The are round, sometimes dusted with powdered sugar and served with steaming cups of coffee or hot chocolate.
🌲To complete the experience, residents view images of the many lights that are adoring streets, homes, windmills, canals and more.
🌲The dance of the wooden shoes brought smiles and questions. How comfortable are those shoes?
🌲As we left the country of windmills, wooden shoes and plates filled with speculaas cookies, which are rich with warm spices, one resident summed it up
Perfectly: "It feels like we traveled to the Netherlands without leaving home."
🌲This look at Christmas in the Netherlands not only showed the residents their valued traditions. It reminded them, how important it is to see and understand why each nationality has their own interepation of Christmas.
Chuck Repnow
Activities Manager
