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Black Peters
In the Netherlands, legend has it that Sinterklass (Dutch name for St. Nicholas) arrives in the Netherlands by way of steamboat from Spain two weeks before his traditional birthday, December 6th, along with his helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), who will help disperse the gifts and candy to all the good children. Sinterklass, along with the zwarte piets, will go abroad at night and stride about the countryside wearing his red mantle, his mitre, and his golden crosier and sporting a long, white beard. Referring to his book that lists all the good and bad children, Sinterklass will deliver presents to all the good children, but watch out if you’ve been bad! In the Netherlands, families celebrate St. Nicholas’s birthday the night before his feast day (December 6th). At one point during the evening, a loud knock will herald the arrival of Sinterklass and at the same time candy may be thrown from upstairs; when the door is opened, a bag of gifts will be on the doorstep. Not knowing any of this, you could imagine my surprise when I was greeted with a face full of candy. It was early morning on 17 November, and I woke to a parade. Staying at the River House Hotel, in Moordrecht, a small town near Gouda, I opened the door to see a parade of children with their parents being lead into town by costumed teenagers in black face, Zwarte Piets (Black Peters). “They thought you were a real Zwarte Piet,” said Nanda, the co-owner of the bed & breakfast. “The children all want to meet you!!” I was a celebrity that afternoon as I walked in the town square of Gouda. As I snapped images using the Leica M6, children pointed at me, tugging on their parents pant legs. It was a wonderful experience, I felt like a rock star! |
