Belgium

Image source: Flags of the World: CIA World Factbook. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from  [].

= __BELGIUM __ =

//Holiday Traditions //
The most unique part of Christmas in Belgium is that they have two Santa Claus figures. In the Flanders, Dutch-speaking, part of the country they have Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) and his assistant (sometimes two) Zwarte Peit. These children celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6. The holidays start for them a few days before when Sinterklaas and Zwarte Peit visit schools and clubs to visit with children and find out if they have been good. On St. Nicholas Eve, children put their shoes out, along with carrots, hay and water for the horses, and a glass of wine for Sinterklaas. He leaves treats like speculaas (spice cookies), chocolates, fruit and toys in their shoes.

Image source: Open-Site. Sinterklaas. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from [].

French-speaking children in Belgium celebrate Christmas very much like children in France do. They celebrate on Christmas Eve and Christmas and are visited by Pere Noel. More information on Christmas traditions in both regions of Belgium can be found by visiting the Belgium page on the St. Nicholas Center.



Image source: CheckingTwice.com. Favorite Links and Sites. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from [].

//Food//
The desserts are varied, not to mention rich, around Christmas in Belgium. Christmas dinner dessert will often be a Christmas log, which is a rich, chocolate cake. There is also the //cougnolle//, which is a sweet bread served with Christmas dinner, and is in the shape of baby Jesus. Of course, speculaas is the most popular cookie at the time, a good recipe for these sweet and spicy cookies can be found at the [|Joy of Baking] website.

Image source: JoyofBaking.com. Speculaas. Retrieved October 21, 2010, <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 80%;">from []. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 80%;">References <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 80%;">St. Nicholas Center. //Belgium//. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from <span class="wiki_link_ext">[]. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 80%;">Cracked.com. //Belgium//. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from <span class="wiki_link_ext">[]

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