Arguably, the most important festival every year for the Dutch is Sint-Nicolaas, who, according to one theory, became the roots of Santa Claus when Dutch immigrants took the tradition to North America.

Earlier than Christmas, in mid-November, Sinterklaas (short for Sint-Nicolaas), together with Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) and horse Americo, arrives by boat to Dutch towns and villages. There is always one "official" port of entry where TV crews wait to interview Sinterklaas.

Dressed in a long red gown, and with long white hair and beard, Sinterklaas has a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. But he also holds a large leather book in which is written all the good and bad behavior of children through the year. Zwarte Piet carries a sack in which misbehaving children are put and taken to Spain, where Sinterklaas lives. Legend says Sinterklaas was the bishop of Myra, Turkey, so nobody knows why he now lives in Spain. But while the thought of being taken away terrorizes small children, adults say they wouldn't mind being taken to Spain in the cold Dutch winter.

Zwarte Piet, helper of Sinterklaas, is a black boy who is supposed to be naughty and likes to play tricks. It is very interesting for me that every year there is debate in the Dutch media over whether it is educationally good to give such a "bad and inferior" role to a black boy, and whether it could lead to discrimination. The Dutch are very sensitive when it comes to issues of discrimination.

Anyway, for over two weeks after their arrival, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet go by each household to check and give candy to good children.

The children, wanting to impress Sinterklaas, try bribing the horse by leaving such goodies as carrots in their shoes. The next morning, the shoes will have cookies, candies or a small gift in them, making the children cry in awe that "Sint was really here."

But for families celebrating this event, the days prior to the eve of Dec. 6 (the main feast day) are extremely busy because presents must be given to each family member accompanied by a rhyme. The rhyme will depict the bad, good or embarrassing things that the recipient did during the year, and are anonymous as the presents are supposed to be from Sint or Piet. Often the gifts are disguised and hidden in the most unexpected locations in the house.

I remember the frustration when I first celebrated Sinterklaas with my husband, Philip, and his Dutch friends. Though I suffered for weeks trying to write a Dutch rhyme, the recipient laughed so hard she cried while reading it. Unfortunately, it was obvious that the writer was not Sint or Piet, but a stupid foreigner at the table.

Far away from Holland, the Dutch community in the Tokyo area also celebrates the festival, and Philip acted as Sinterklaas there four times.

In this event, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet arrive by boat at the jetty behind the Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel, and from there, move to an international club where Dutch and Japanese children are put on Sint's lap and asked whether they have been good. Many children (including our son) often cried so hard on Sint's lap that it made me worry they could be traumatized.

On Dec. 13, Philip plans to act as Sinterklaas for children of the Japanese community in Holland, hoping to create a nice memory for them. Perhaps a few years later they will be back in Japan and attending the Sinterklaas event in Yokohama.

Yumi Wijers-Hasegawa is a former reporter for "The Japan Times" who lives in the Netherlands.