Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet

Let me start off by saying the following pictures may be offensive to some, but apparently not to the dutch. This is definitely a tradition that would not be accepted in America without a little tweeking. However, we had a lot of fun joining in the festivities!

And the story goes....
In Netherlands they celebrate Sinterklaas, the patron saint of children. He arrives each year in mid-November by steamboat from Spain. He is then paraded through the streets, welcomed by cheering and singing children. His Zwarte Piet assistants throw candy and small, round, ginger bread-like cookies, either "kruidnoten" or "pepernoten," into the crowd. The children welcome him by singing traditional Sinterklaas songs.

Sinterklaas carries a big book that tells whether each individual child has been good or naughty in the past year. He is said to be very rich, he lives in a castle in Spain, and likes to give presents on his birthday rather than receive them. He traditionally rides a white horse named Amerigo.

Now this is where it gets a little questionable....
Black Pete (Zwarte Piet) is Sinterklaas’ helper. According to tradition, there are many Zwarte Pieten who all have their own specialization (much like the smurfs). There is a Zwarte Piet for writing the poetry that accompanies Sinterklaas presents, one that bakes, one to care for Sinterklaas' horse, one for everything you can think of. There is also always one Luie Piet (Lazy Pete) or Domme Piet (Stupid Pete). These are people dressed in bright medievel costumes with their faces painted black (never in America!). The explanation parents these days give to kids as to why Zwarte Piet is black is because he climbs down dirty chimneys to put presents and candy in kids shoes.

In the weeks between his arrival and December 5, before going to bed children put their shoes next to the fireplace chimney with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water "for Sinterklaas' horse," and sing a Sinterklaas song; the next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes, supposedly thrown down the chimney by a Zwarte Piet or Sinterklaas himself. On the evening of December 5 Sinterklaas delivers a sack full of presents. Presents are often accompanied by a simple poem, saying something about the child or containing a hint to the nature of the present. Sinterklaas often uses these poems to reprimand and tease children about bad habits or behavior.

So...
We went to the town center today and joined in the festivities which included a lot of singing, dancing, and about a hundred Zwarte Pieten running around dancing and passing out pepernoten to all the children. Before the kids went to bed this evening they put their shoes by the fireplace and sang a Sinterklaas song in hopes that they will wake up with a treat in their shoe in the morning. We shall see!