Klozum (or Klozem) is a holiday feast celebrated every 5 December on the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

island of

Schiermonnikoog Schiermonnikoog (; fry, ) is an island, a municipality and national park in the Northern Netherlands. Schiermonnikoog is one of the West Frisian Islands, and is part of the province of Friesland. It is situated between the islands of Ameland a ...

. The name literally means "Uncle Claus" (as in

Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greeks, Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-da ...

). Despite the name and date, the tradition is not directly related to

Sinterklaas Sinterklaas () or Sint-Nicolaas () is a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Other Dutch names for the figure include ''De Sint'' ("The Saint"), ''De Goede Sint'' ("The Good Saint") and ''De Goedheiligman'' ("The ...

, which is also celebrated on 5 December in the Netherlands. Rather, it is related to similar traditions on other

Frisian Islands The Frisian Islands, also known as the Wadden Islands or the Wadden Sea Islands, form an archipelago at the eastern edge of the North Sea in northwestern Europe, stretching from the northwest of the Netherlands through Germany to the west of Denma ...

, such as Klaasohm on

Borkum Borkum ( nds, Borkum, Börkum) is an island and a municipality in the Leer District in Lower Saxony, northwestern Germany. It is situated east of Rottumeroog and west of Juist. Geography Borkum is bordered to the west by the Westerems strait ...

, Ouwe Sunderklaas on

Texel Texel (; Texels dialect: ) is a municipality and an island with a population of 13,643 in North Holland, Netherlands. It is the largest and most populated island of the West Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea. The island is situated north of De ...

, Opkleden on

Vlieland Vlieland (; fry, Flylân) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and island in the northern Netherlands. The municipality of Vlieland is the second most sparsely populated municipality in the Netherlands, after Schiermonnikoog. V ...

, and Sunderklazen on

Ameland Ameland (; West Frisian: It Amelân) is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes. It is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands ...

."Klozum", Gemeente Schiermonnikoog
(Dutch)
(Dutch) During the feast, the islanders disguise themselves as "klozums" and visit homes on the island. The disguises are often as prominent locals, national and international celebrities, and fantasy and fairy-tale characters such as Arabs or cowboys. Both men and women disguise themselves. The klozums also distort their voice in order to further disguise their identity.Cees Tempel, "Sundrums, Klozums en andere gemaskerde eilanders", Stichting Toverbal
(Dutch) The klozums begin visiting homes on the island around 8:30 p.m., alone or in groups. In order to welcome the klozums, the homes' front doors are left ajar and a lantern is lit or a curtain is left open. Once inside, the klozums put on a performance, acting out various characters or situations, often satirizing important events or decisions that have taken place on the island in the past year. After the klozums have departed, the inhabitants must guess who had been hiding behind the disguises. Klozum culminates in a demasking at midnight, when all the klozums drop their masks and disguises to reveal who they really are. The demasking is followed by celebrations lasting into the night. Although normally celebrated on 5 December, the feast is moved to the following Monday if the 5th falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The children on the island have their own Klozum feast on 3 and 4 December. The ''lytje klozums'' ("little klozums") visit homes during the afternoon, shouting "Klozum, Klozum", and put on an act or sing a song, earning them a reward of candy or cookies.
(Dutch) Little is known of the history of the Klozum tradition. It dates back at least to the 19th Century, when there were several mentions of Klozum."De Cultuur van Schiermonnikoog", Waddenkiosk
(Dutch)

References

{{reflist Culture of Friesland Dutch folklore December observances Schiermonnikoog