Oh Sinterklaas, where do we begin? For those who don't know, this weekend was the kick-off for the Dutch Christmas season and it all begins with Sinterklaas (not to be confused with Santa Claus) arriving by steam boat from Spain. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently he first arrives in smaller towns (we saw him in Utrecht) on Saturday, but on Sunday he arrives with all of his friends in painted black-faces in Amsterdam. These friends are called Zwarte Piets (translates to "black Petes"). They wear brightly colored jester looking costumes and chuck kruidnoten (small ginger cookies) at the kids from the boats or floats at the parade later in the day. As if the Zwarte Piets weren't concerning enough themselves (a lot that we saw were high school students painted up taking pictures with very little kids and gently handing out the candy), tons of children around town also smear chalky black paint or what looks like their mother's tan-in-a-bottle on their faces and wear the costumes as well. It was quite the scene about town.
Sint stays in the Netherlands handing out candy to good children in their shoes (this ranges from decorated chocolate letters to gummies to small fondant plate/coins) every night until the 5th of December when the real Christmas (meaning the religious one) begins and the crazy present-giving kind ends. But if you've been naughty then the Zwarte Piets will flog you with small branches. People here in the Netherlands claim Zwarte Piets get their dark color from chimney soot or have it because they're from Spain, but pretty much every expat is horrified at the idea. Tram service is suspended, but the whole event might have been worth the mess just to see hundreds and hundred of parents with kids strapped on the front or back of their bicycles or riding alongside their parents around town to catch a glimpse of Sint. You would think with that many eager children around there would have been some serious naughtiness or a ton of screaming and carrying on (as you might find where I'm from), but the kids were pleasant and enraptured by the whole event making the day magical despite the Zwarte Piet concerns.
Here is an add from the local grocery chain Jumbo.
Piet's in store windows
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