Who? Well, Sinterklaas of course. Or Saint Nicholas. Or the holy man. Or the friend of children. He lives in Madrid (Spain) and comes to the Netherlands using his little steamer. His steamer is packed to the rafters with Black Peters, presents and of course his faithfull white horse Amerigo (yes, named after the explorer).
From now until December 5th when he celebrates his birthday by giving away presents, he will show up in every single show on television, there will be discussions about the pc-ness of Black Peters and children will have a hard time falling asleep at night because they are wondering what the Saint and his Peters will leave in their shoes, before the big day with chocolate letters, speculoos, hot chocolate, ginger nuts and of course the proper presents!
About the pc-ness of the Black Peters: since Saint Nicholas has taken up residence in Madrid a long time ago, they could be Moorish slaves. Then again, they could be black because they are the ones climbing down the chimney to leave the presents. But according to the latest film about our national gift giver, the Black Peters are black because their faces were burned during some raid or other. Needless to say, that film is a horror film! Whatever reason, a few years ago the pc Peters that were Blue, Yellow, Red and every other colour under the sun didn't make much of an impression on the children and they haver reverted back to Black Peters.
Back in my teaching days, we had a little video about latitude and longitude. It featured the Sinterklass trying to figure out how to deliver his presents. Except he delivered from the North Pole and now Madrid.
ReplyDeleteI remember a lot of things from my childhood that certainly weren't politically correct. The nicest people in the world, including my grandmother, who was kindness and goodness itself, used to use dreadfully racist terms (by today's standards). The called Brazil nuts "nigger toes" and one of the machines in the cannery where my grandfather worked "the iron Chink" because it did the work formerly done by Chinese workers. They gave us books like "Little Black Sambo" and thought nothing of it. They would have been appalled to be called racist.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we think the world has gone to hell in a handcart, but now and then we realize progress has actually been made.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
I love this story. When we were little and St. Nicholas came the most I new about him was that he brought gifts on the 5th and that it was a Dutch tradition.
ReplyDeleteI'm putting my wellies in front of the chimney tonight ;-)
ReplyDeleteHere in the US we have a hard time explaining the origin of the Black Peters when we are celebrating Sinterklaas with the local Dutch club. It is a sensitive issue...
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Black Peters...
ReplyDeleteI am with Ginny Marie I haven't heard of him either.
ReplyDeleteThis was interesting to me because St.Nicholos is just another name for Santa here
I didn't know about the Black Peters. What a shame it would be if all the old traditions were stamped on and became pale reflections because of 'pc'.
ReplyDeleteThe origins of Santa Claus, Sinterklaas, St Nicholas are always fascinating to me. 'Fill your boots' takes on a whole new meaning;-)
He arrived at our local garden centre yesterday on a Harley Davidson - how times change!
ReplyDeleteoh- our version of Santa Claus is sooo much nicer- no Black peters, just him filling our stocking with gifts and candy. But he doesn't some to America until Dec.24th
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