Glossary

speculaas, boterkoek, bankets - Dutch pastries Truus, Truusje - the ..je suffix in Dutch gives a diminutive form, like Don and Donny in English. Pronounce the vowel uu as in Whew! and the j as y Tsampa - a staple food of roasted barley, bound into balls or cakes with tea and salted butter (Tibet,Bhutan)

verruckt und zugeneht - curse in German, literally 'torn apart and sewn together'; flavor of "I'll be damned!", or "Sacre blue!" or "Tabernacle!"

zoentje - Dutch, a little kiss Zwarte Piet - Black Pete, a Negro helper to St Nicholas. Black Pete punishes the naughty children.