"WHO WANTS CHOCOLATE?" I do! I do!
Specifically, a delicious, creamy chocolate letter. Preferably an 'S' if you got to the store on time. Why a letter? It's Dutch Christmas!
A time for those ginormous blonde-haired, blue-eyed children to sit on Sinterklaas' lap and cower slightly from Zwarte Piet in case he might make a grab for them.
Growing up, Marc and I got to be involved in our hometown Sinterklaas celebration. In fact, we got to dress up in frouffy costumes and paint every inch of visible skin with oily black paint in order to scare the kids that we might try to take them back to Spain to wrap presents...or just whip them.
Perhaps you'd enjoy a Zwarte Peit history lesson:
Specifically, a delicious, creamy chocolate letter. Preferably an 'S' if you got to the store on time. Why a letter? It's Dutch Christmas!
A time for those ginormous blonde-haired, blue-eyed children to sit on Sinterklaas' lap and cower slightly from Zwarte Piet in case he might make a grab for them.
Growing up, Marc and I got to be involved in our hometown Sinterklaas celebration. In fact, we got to dress up in frouffy costumes and paint every inch of visible skin with oily black paint in order to scare the kids that we might try to take them back to Spain to wrap presents...or just whip them.
Perhaps you'd enjoy a Zwarte Peit history lesson:According to the myths before the beginning of the 19th century, Sinterklaas operated by himself or in the companionship of a devil. Having triumphed over evil, it was said that on Sinterklaas Eve, the devil was shackled and made his slave.
Sinterklaas is said to come from Spain. According to the more modern Sinterklaas legend, Zwarte Piet is a servant who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his holiday travels. In some versions, it is alleged that Sinterklaas 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.
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. Though this is considered increasingly outdated nowadays, he can still carry some type of whip or scourge, especially a birch, which could be used to chastise children who have been too naughty to deserve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.
During recent years the role of Zwarte Piet has become part of a recurring debate in the Netherlands. The origin and appearance of Zwarte Piet is seen as a form of racism that promotes a negative stereotype of dark-skinned people as evil, stupid, emasculated or foolish. These same behaviour and physical characteristics are shared by the typical character in the condemned early 20th Century American tradition blackface, even though many European countries do not have a high level of exposure to the tradition. Zwarte Piet's role as the subservient character in the story of Sinterklaas is particularly sensitive considering the history of the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century.
Since the last decade of the 20th century there have been several attempts to introduce a new kind of Zwarte Piet to the Dutch population. These Zwarte Pieten have replaced the traditional black make-up for all sorts of colours and have been introduced several times in an effort to make Zwarte Piet acceptable to all inhabitants and to create a character that is politically correct. These multi-colored Pieten are unpopular amongst the Dutch population and are not catching on. In 2006, all black Pieten were replaced by these rainbow-coloured Pieten, but in 2007 they reverted to the traditional all-black Pieten.
Regardless, Merry Dutch Christmas and gimme a chocolate 'S'. Or just chocolate.
Sinterklaas is said to come from Spain. According to the more modern Sinterklaas legend, Zwarte Piet is a servant who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his holiday travels. In some versions, it is alleged that Sinterklaas 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.
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. Though this is considered increasingly outdated nowadays, he can still carry some type of whip or scourge, especially a birch, which could be used 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.
During recent years the role of Zwarte Piet has become part of a recurring debate in the Netherlands. The origin and appearance of Zwarte Piet is seen as a form of racism that promotes a negative stereotype of dark-skinned people as evil, stupid, emasculated or foolish. These same behaviour and physical characteristics are shared by the typical character in the condemned early 20th Century American tradition blackface, even though many European countries do not have a high level of exposure to the tradition. Zwarte Piet's role as the subservient character in the story of Sinterklaas is particularly sensitive considering the history of the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century.
Since the last decade of the 20th century there have been several attempts to introduce a new kind of Zwarte Piet to the Dutch population. These Zwarte Pieten have replaced the traditional black make-up for all sorts of colours and have been introduced several times in an effort to make Zwarte Piet acceptable to all inhabitants and to create a character that is politically correct. These multi-colored Pieten are unpopular amongst the Dutch population and are not catching on. In 2006, all black Pieten were replaced by these rainbow-coloured Pieten, but in 2007 they reverted to the traditional all-black Pieten.
Regardless, Merry Dutch Christmas and gimme a chocolate 'S'. Or just chocolate.
2 comments:
Although my family is Dutch, we don't celebrate Sinterklaas. We do however, hold the tradition of chocolate letters at Christmas time. My mom even sent me one last week for my birthday! This is a tradition I hope never dies :)
SHOOT, how did I forget that? Well, no doubt I'll get my chocolate letter at our Canadian Christmas celebration (hint hint Mom and Dad:)
I think I have the picture of you, Marc, and Carlynne dressed as Zwarte Piets. If I find it, I'll send it your way!
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