Dutch Culture: Sinterklaas - a joyful tradition.

The 5^th of December, for children in the Netherlands is one of the most exciting days of the year, Old Saint Nick and his helpers come and deliver Christmas presents to one and all. Or, in the Dutch case, Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) and his helper Zwarte Pieten ‘Black Pete’ come to visit. The tradition of Sinterklaas has been embedded in Dutch culture since the 19^th Century, with the festivities beginning in the middle of November as the Dutch Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) makes his way from Spain where he lives, to the Netherlands to hand out gifts. Saint Nicholas is aided by a host of helpers, known as Black Pete, who are traditionally clothed, wear afro-style wigs, red lips, gold earrings and blackened faces (van der Pijl & Goulordava, 2014).

As an international student, this Dutch tradition has only recently become known to me and at first glance it seems shocking that a holiday as widely celebrated as Christmas would feature a character in black face as a normal and acceptable tradition. However, that is just an outsiders perspective with little prior knowledge that these customs even existed. Delving further into this somewhat bizarre tradition, it appears that in recent years there has been much controversy surrounding the practice. In December 2015, British newspaper The Telegraph reported on protests in the Netherlands as hundreds of demonstrators turned up at Sinterklaas festivities in Meppel to voice their concerns over the black face character (Boztas, 2015). Arguments have surfaced that the Black Pete character dressed in black face and Afro wigs is reminiscent of Dutch colonial history and encompasses the legacy of slavery in the Netherlands (van der Pijl & Goulordava, 2014).

Further searching has led me to find that countering the fierce debate that the tradition is based on racist notions, there exist equally fervent arguments that the Black Pete tradition is just that, a tradition. It has been reported that Dutch citizens feel that Sinterklaas is an essential part of their culture, celebrating the tale of Santa Claus and gift giving at this time of year. Furthermore, the holiday is often dismissed as something for children, that race or colour of skin doesn’t come into it when it comes to children receiving presents on this special day (Hilhorst & Hermes, 2015).

Having read several articles on the topic, and living in a Dutch city where Sinterklaas is very much celebrated and Black Pete is displayed all around; I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about the convention. The traditionalist arguments that I have read in favour of the custom raise faint alarm bells in my ears, evocative of arguments I have overheard in ‘post-brexit’ Britain palming off prejudiced comments not as racist but nationalistic and patriotic. Perhaps Sinterklaas and Black Pete is just a tradition, embedded in Dutch culture resembling nothing more than one of Santa’s helpers with some chimney soot on his face. Who knows, not me. Happy Sinterklaas?

Photo taken from: http://blackpetethedocumentary.com/

References:

Boztas, S. (2015). Dutch 'Black Pete' makes annual arrival to howls of protest. The Telegraph. [online] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/11996588/Dutch-Black-Pete-makes-annual-arrival-to-howls-of-protest.html [Accessed 6 Dec. 2016].

Hilhorst, S. and Hermes, J. (2015). 'We have given up so much: Passion and denial in the Dutch Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) controversy. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 19(3), pp.218-233.

van der Pijl, Y. and Goulordava, K. (2014). Black Pete, “Smug Ignorance,” and the Value of the Black Body in Postcolonial Netherlands. New West Indian Guide / Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, 88(3-4), pp.262-291.