St. Thomas' Day in the Netherlands (21/12)

St. Thomas' Day is celebrated in Holland on December 21 — on the shortest and darkest day of the year.

In general, St. Thomas' Day (or St. Thomas' Day) is a holiday celebrated in a number of countries on December 21 due to the fact that previously the memory of this apostle in the Catholic Church was celebrated on this day (but was then postponed to July 3). Therefore, in most countries, the holiday of December 21 has lost its religious content, and, as a rule, it is accompanied by local customs and traditions.

In Holland, this day is the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, and a very funny tradition is timed to coincide with it: on December 21, all students try to come to class as early as possible. Everyone who comes writes their name on the blackboard. And the student whose name appears last on this list will be teased all day by «son Thomas». Know that on a day like this you are simply ashamed to sleep for a long time!

Even teachers are afraid of being late for school on this day. And it’s not a matter of complaints from the authorities, but out of fear of being known as «son Thomas» for his students.

Usually all the main preparations for Christmas are completed for this day. Because traditional belief says that Christmas comes with St. Thomas.

The night from December 21 to December 22 — is the longest of the year, it is called «nights of two breads». On this night, two lines of baking manage to arrive. It is noteworthy that on the same night the famous black Christmas bread in the shape of a star comes out of the ovens.

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