Christmas Time in The Netherlands

When the month of November started to roll around, I started noticing lights going up in the towns and some interesting posters and advertisements going up involving this strange looking white person with black paint on their faces and really red lips. At first, I was a little confused, why are these white people dressing up like black people and why aren't the black people here aren't claiming discrimination, I learned it was because it was based on cultural history, so therefore, it was accepted.

Then after asking a Dutch friend of mine, Niels, he explained to me that this was Zwartz Pieten (Black Pete) and Sinter Klaas (Klaus of the cinders) arrives around the 2nd week of November on a boat.

When he arrives, he is greeted by millions of kids holding out out bags for candies and small little cookies that his assistants, a number of men dressed up in colorful clothes, painted black faces and red lips, his assistants, Zwartze Pieten.

As the story goes, in the days leading up to December 5, young children put their shoes in front of the chimneys and sing special 'Sinterklaas-songs'. Often the shoe is filled with a carrot or some hay for the horse of St. Nicholas (called Amerigo). On the next morning they will find a small present in their shoe, ranging from a bag of chocolate coins to a bag of marbles or some other small toy. On the evening of December 5th, Sinterklaas brings presents to every child that has been good in the past year (in practice to all children). Sinterklaas wears a red bishop's dress including a red mitre, rides a white horse over the rooftops and is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dresses, dating back two centuries. These helpers are called 'Zwarte Pieten'(black Petes). (Wikipedia)

So, Andreas and I got to experience everything first hand today when we walked through town. As we walked around the corner, we saw a number of little children running around with these little red and blue hats with feathers in their hats and some with black paint on their faces. Here is Andreas with some of our Black Petes.

Happy December 5th! Andreas and I will be here waiting for SinterKlaas and his assistants to come and put some nice candies and gifts in our shoes.

And one more thing that we did see...was "Tony's Place" in the Netherlands. Looks like our friend, Mr. Tony Rosati will just have to come out here and visit us. His place is already here and waiting.