Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet

I didn't think I was going to write a blog every day, but today was too good to pass up. I rode a Vespa through town today to help celebrate a dutch tradition. Today in Holland they celebrate SinterKlaas. Similar to santa and his elves, Sinterklaas has helpers but they are slaves. People actually dress up and paint their faces black and attend this parade. Sinterklaas (santa claus) lives in Sunny Spain and comes to holland by boat with his helpers... The Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). Black Pete walks around and gives children cookies. Parents tell kids if they are bad, black pete is going to take them away to Spain.

If Europeans ever critizie us americans on racisim in our country, this is something we can throw back at them. Not only is it weird, but it's super creepy. The country is trying to address these racisim issues and they say Pete's face is black from the soot from climbing down the chiminies, and petes lips are red because his lips scrape on the way down.

Small dutch children everywhere dress up as Black Pete and paint their faces black. This is a childrens holiday but it's apparant the parents have just as much fun with it. There were small drinking boats on the amstel river partying it up.

Finally on December 5th, Sinterklass and Black Pete will visit childrens homes. Before going to bed, kids put their shoes by the fireplace filled with carrots for sinterklaas's horse. The next day they will find candy or a small present in their shoes.

If you don't believe any of this, google it. It's totally true! See the video below that we shot of the parade.