December, maand van het kind

The feast of St Nicholas is the highlight of the December-festivities in the countries of the Benelux. Similarly, France and England celebrate Christmas at the end of December. In all these countries children are the main participants in the festivities. That is why in 1957, by order of the Western European Union, the film december, month of the child was made, a joint production of the five countries that were associated in this union. French boys lighting a bonfire are alternated with images of Hoseker, the Luxembourg ogre, who roams the streets with his rod to expel all evil and frighten off naughty children. Father Christmas is sitting next to an English Christmas tree and le père Noël under a French tree. The patron saint of Amsterdam, St Nicholas, makes his yearly entry into the Dutch capital. It is remarkable that the children's joy manifests itself so differently in every country, but that the essence of this joy is the same in any country.