Tuesday, December 23, 2025

St. Peter's Day in Grou

The St. Peter's Day is a unique Frisian tradition in the village of Grou (Grouw), where instead of celebrating Sinterklaas in December, the birthday of St. Peter (Saint Peter) is celebrated around February 21st. 

The festival has ancient roots in a spring celebration and the veneration of Peter as the patron saint of fishermen, but took on its current form around 1900, inspired by Sinterklaas (with a story that St. Peter is the "brother" Grou did not forget). 
St. Peter arrives by boat on the Saturday before February 21st, accompanied by his helper Aldemar (since 2021, a nature spirit instead of the former Swarte Pyt). 
A procession through the village follows, with music, schoolchildren and the mayor, visits to schools and care centers, Frisian songs, a fairy tale performance, and gifts and sweets for the children. 

It's a village festival with minimal commercialism, recognized as intangible heritage since 2018.








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