“When I lived in Holland when I was 6, um at my boarding school you would put out your shoes on the door December 5^th and there should be candy or chocolate in your shoes on the 6^th.”

She believes this tradition is similar to putting out stalkings on Christmas.  She thought the goodies were a nice reward in the middle of the winter.  She thought the tradition was like a pre-Christmas.

Perhaps the children put their shoes out to receive candy because Holland has a special emphasis on shoes.  Many people in Holland are known for their clog shoes and since this is almost a national identity, the shoes are used as the conveyer of sweets.  Thus, the people are perpetuating their national identity and making children associate the shoes with good things at a young age since they are filled with goodies.