* cababarant *

Saturday, December 02, 2006

That time of year

Just when I started thinking it was too surreal to be true, or perhaps that I just imagined it last year, it's Sinterklaas season again! The craziest part of it, of course, is Zwarte Piet, Sinterklaas' helper, the character that gives the Dutch cultural license to run around in blackface for several weeks. It's one of those things that other expats tell you about, and you don't really, honestly believe it until you see it for the first time. (Before that, I guess you can be considered a Sinterklaas-season-virgin.) I don't think it's something I'll ever get used to, but it's fascinating and horrifying all at the same time. (I wrote about Piet last year, which was my first year experiencing this weirdness.) We went down to Delft to get a taste of it once again, and sure enough, there were dozens of Zwarte Pieten running around.

The parade started innocently enough, with a typical marching band... (that's me and the little guy watching)

... then, hello, what's this? Blackface!

... then Sinterklaas, aloof on his horse with one of his 'helpers'.

The little guy (here on Daddy's shoulders) doesn't really know what to think about it, but at least he got some candy. (And yes that's a lollipop. No, my kid is not smoking!)

Links
My take on Zwarte Piet on Cababa.com, December 2005

posted by sheryl | 3:23 PM |

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