Comparison of Sinterklaas and Santa Claus

Though the figure of Santa Claus, and his role during Christmas, is largely based on the Dutch Sinterklaas, there are a number of differences and similarities between the two. This article will try to explain these.

Transportation
One of the most obvious differences between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus in the way they choose to travel. Santa (together with his helpers) uses a reindeer-drawn sleigh, which, due to the magical reindeer that pull it, is able to fly through the air. Sinterklaas comes to the Low Countries on a steamer, called Pakjesboot 12. When arrived he travels on his horse, a Gray called Americo, while his helpers walk. The horse however posses magical powers, as it is able to walk over rooftops and make great leaps trough the air.

Preparations
Both Santa and Sinterklaas make use of helpers. Elves assist Santa Claus, while Zwarte Pieten help Sinterklaas. While Santa appears to make all the presents himself, his house if often represented as a toy factory, Sinterklaas says he buys the presents in stores, which he can do due to being unimaginably wealthy, and then lets the Pieten wrap them.

Punishment
In contrast to Santa, Sinterklaas is used as a fear tactic by parents in order to get children to behave. Many Sinterklaas songs incorporate one basic element: Children who've been good will receive presents and candy, the ones who haven't will receive nothing, will be beaten (often with small branches) by the Zwarte Pieten, or in the most extreme cases will be taken to Spain, and will have to serve Santa as a slave, and will become a Zwarte Piet.

Place of Residence
While Santa Claus is said to live on or near the North Pole together with his helpers, Sinterklaas lives in an unspecified (but likey Southern) castle in Spain. Sinterklaas and Santa Claus both spend most of their days preparing for Christmas. In this, Sinterklaas assumes the role of a more administrative figure, while his helpers do much of the packaging and manual labour as opposed to Santa Claus who is often depicted as doing both jobs, but also together with his helpers.

Family
Sinterklaas does not have any shown or spoken about relatives. Santa however, is sometimes depicted as having a wife: Mrs. Claus. The reason why Sinterklaas has no wife or children is likely caused by the fact that he is largely based on Saint Nicolas, an early Christian bishop, and hence bound to celibacy.

Age
Technically both Sinterklaas and Santa Clause are the same figure, both based on Saint Nicholas of Myra. Hence they should, in theory, be of the same age, which would be 1737 (given that Nicholas was born in 270 A.D) however, both Santa and Sinterklaas never give an explicit answer when asked their age. Santa says he stopped counting at 550, and Sinterklaas says he's simply too old to remember.

Knowledge of eachother
Santa Claus, seems to be oblivious to the existance of Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas however is aware of Santa's existence, and has said that they occasionally meet at his castle. Adding that their meetings usually have several centuries in between.

Personality
While Santa is often very punctual and rarely forgets anything, Sinterklaas can appear to be almost senile at times. Needing the help of his Zwarte Pieten to remind him of what he was or supposed to be doing.