by Jacqui Eisen | Nov 1, 2017 | A Place to Come Home To, Special Days and Traditions, The Immigrant Experience
When I was a child, my best friend Debbie used to get a Christmas box from her grandparents who still lived in The Netherlands. In those days we called a box like that a “kist”. That translates as “crate”. When the kist arrived for...
by Jacqui Eisen | Nov 18, 2015 | Christmas Traditions, Food History, Special Days and Traditions
Why do Dutch people give chocolate letters? When we receive our initial on “Pakjesavond” December 5 or at Christmas most of us just eat the delicious chocolate without wondering why this unique tradition is still practiced. The history of receiving a...
