Canadutch
Today is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands. Which is sort of like the Dutch Christmas, only different…
The Dutch tradition of “Sinterklaas” is an interesting Dutch tradition, although American commercialism is eroding on this cultural event. Halfway through November there is a big spectacle when the Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands. Television crews await his arrival from Spain at a port where he docks his steam boat full of presents, Zwarte Pieten [black Piet] , and his horse. They are welcomed by a huge crowd of children and parents.
Sinterklaas simultaneously arrives at every city or village in the Netherlands. Suspicious, thinking children who understand the impossibility of simultaneous sightings of Sinterklaas discover that this grand event unfolds with the help of “hulp-Sinterklazen” (people who help Sinterklaas by dressing up like him). Sinterklaas goes on a tour through the village accompanied by several Zwarte Pieten, who throw different types of sweets around and on the ground for children. After this day, Sinterklaas begins his assessment of all the children’s behavior in the past year, and proceeds to hand out presents. It culminates on the evening of December 5.
This long time Dutch tradition always sparks debate among the Expat community at this time of year. Many people who are new to the Netherlands are shocked by the Dutch practice of dressing up in blackface as Zwarte Piet.
Zwarte Piet translated means ‘Black Peter’. He is the helper (or servant as he is usually titled) of Sinterklaas and he is indeed, black.
Most expats see this as incredibly offensive and racist and they voice a multitude of opinions on the matter from confusion to complete outrage.
Wikipedia explanation of Zwarte Piet:
According to the more modern Saint Nicholas legend, Zwarte Piet is a servant who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his holiday travels. In some versions, it is alleged that Saint Nicholas once liberated a young slave named Peter, who decided to serve Nicholas (as a free servant) rather than enjoy liberty alone. Zwarte Piet is today commonly depicted as a black man in the colorful pantaloons, feathered cap and ruffles of a Renaissance European page, a tradition based on a single illustration in a book published in 1850.
Often portrayed as a mischievous or even mean character, parents used to tell their children that if they have been good, Zwarte Piet will bring them gifts and sweets; but if they have been bad, Piet will scoop them up, stuff them in his huge dufflebag and spirit them away to Spain (a logical place of origin for the black assistant from the time of submission of ‘heathen’ Moors during the Reconquista). Though this is considered increasingly outdated nowadays, he can still carry some type of whip or scourge, especially a birch, which could be used for birching or in modern words, to chastise children who have been too naughty to deserve presents. The character is believed to have been derived from pagan traditions of evil spirits.
That doesn’t really paint Zwarte Piet in the best light, in fact it makes him sound rather scary… but the children in the Netherlands are not afraid of him, rather they love him and get extremely excited when they see him around the city.
At this time of year, Zwarte Pieten are a dime a dozen. You can’t walk around the city without seeing at least a few of these people dressed up.
This weekend my husband and I were shopping and I snapped a few photos of the Zwarte Pieten that were walking around the shopping center playing music and handing out candy to the children. Some were walking around playing musical instruments like above, others were walking around on stilts. They were everywhere.
Personally, I’m not bothered by this at all. Then again, I’m also a white Canadian chick so I don’t really have any reason to feel deeply offended by it. Maybe if I was black I’d feel differently but I don’t know.
A lot of the other expats who rave about it are white. The Americans seem to be the ones who are most up in arms about it. I wonder if it is an American thing, a black thing or some sort of combination… I really don’t know. From what I can tell, the Dutch aren’t bothered by it at all, nor are a lot of the African foreigners who live in the city.
This is such an old tradition in this country. I find it hard to understand why people find it so incredibly offensive when there is such a long history behind it. It’s not like the Dutch suddenly decided to do this in the face of all that has gone on in the world. This has been going on for hundreds of years… so surely there must be some understanding for their traditions.
I’m very curious to hear different opinions of people around the world. I know this would go over like a ton of bricks in Canada, but as a Canadian in the Netherlands I am not at all offended by it. In fact I rather like it. I love that the Dutch have this tradition that is all their own and how much the people here enjoy it, especially the children.
What do you think? Are you offended by the idea of Zwarte Piet? What do you think of people dressing up in blackface and wandering around the city? Would this ever be acceptable in the country you live in? If you lived here would you be able to accept it?
Its just typical of tadays political correctness gone mad. Like you say the dutch have been doing it for years if someone wants to complain then it should come from the dutch black communtiy. Not from dumbass yanks with no idea of history or tradition, just because they dont have any. Si, UK
looks interesting to say the least
I am a white american and feel that the Dutch keep their culture alive. To hell with what the world thinks about it. If Americans have a problem with a Dutch tradition, well its just that ‘their problem’ Sometimes its embarassing to tell ppl where I am from, we cannt seem to keep out oppions to ourselves. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and most that exspress their views are just that…assholes.
I would love to come out there someday and see this holiday, and maybe trace some of my ancestors. I have very distant relatives that came from their….like 1700’s distant ;-)
The only thing that offends me about this tradition, is the small minded people who are offended by it.
:)
I am familiar with this tradition, and I think it is good that the Dutch keep their culture alive, whether it now appears racist or not. I do not think that was it’s connotation when first brought about, so it shouldn’t bother people now.
Quite frankly, it is people from other countries coming to live in England that protest the most about our traditions, the only difference being, our holidays have been altered to suit their needs – why? Surely if you come to live in a country, you should accept that certain ways of life are different. If it bothers you that much, leave, is my opinion. If you went to live in a country where ritual killings of sheep was tradition, for example, you’d have not a leg to stand on if you complained – that has been their way of life for many years, most seeing the ritual as religious, and they have no qualms about appearing ‘racist’ or not. The word is thrown around too lightly now.
Anyway :) it looks like a lot of fun, the celebrations, and it gives another dimension to the Christmas tradition of Santa/Father Christmas for the children.