Word of the day: Schoorsteenveger (Chimney Sweep)
Today marks another day for Dutch celebration! It is a slightly different take on kicking off the holiday season than in the US (i.e. Macy's parade) Here they have a guy called Sinterklaas that comes by boat "from Spain" and seems to do a quick sweep (appearance) of the town to check-in with the kids and give them one last reminder to be good. Though this same man is allowed to kick, use branches to lash children, AND if they were really bad he can put them into his sack and take them back to Spain with him. Hmmm, right?!?!
Well now let's have Steve share his thoughts, or rather of others...
“It is not racist!”
That’s what my co-workers told me when I showed them one of my videos of Sinterklaas (aka St. Nicholas) parading through the streets of Maastricht. Usually I tell people that the cultural differences between the Netherlands and the United States are quite small. However, Sinterklass happens to be one of the larger ones. Simply watch this video:
Yes, that is a bunch of grown men and children dressed up in blackface. They are playing the part of Zwarte Piet (which translates to “Black Peter”) who according to Wikipedia:
“is a servant of Sinterklaas, usually an adolescent in blackface with black curly hair, dressed up like a 17th century page in a colourful dress, often with a lace collar, and donning a feathered cap. Sinterklaas and his Black Pete usually carry a bag which contains candy for nice children and a roe, a chimney sweep's broom made of willow branches, used to spank naughty children. Some of the older Sinterklaas songs make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and being taken back to Spain.”
My co-workers defend the blackface by saying “its because they climb down sooty chimneys”. I reply with: “oh yeah? Why are his clothes so clean?!?!?" No response.
Here is a humorous take by the comedian David Sedaris that a friend passed along:
YOU MUST WATCH THIS (IF YOU WANT A LAUGH!!!) sorry there are 3 links to the video-- in total it will take you 15mins to watch, but pretty funny!
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbJpRLhaSqs
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1D1HKTDCY
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g17Pl7MFMco
Till next time...
Sarah & Steve
Well now let's have Steve share his thoughts, or rather of others...
“It is not racist!”
That’s what my co-workers told me when I showed them one of my videos of Sinterklaas (aka St. Nicholas) parading through the streets of Maastricht. Usually I tell people that the cultural differences between the Netherlands and the United States are quite small. However, Sinterklass happens to be one of the larger ones. Simply watch this video:
Yes, that is a bunch of grown men and children dressed up in blackface. They are playing the part of Zwarte Piet (which translates to “Black Peter”) who according to Wikipedia:
“is a servant of Sinterklaas, usually an adolescent in blackface with black curly hair, dressed up like a 17th century page in a colourful dress, often with a lace collar, and donning a feathered cap. Sinterklaas and his Black Pete usually carry a bag which contains candy for nice children and a roe, a chimney sweep's broom made of willow branches, used to spank naughty children. Some of the older Sinterklaas songs make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and being taken back to Spain.”
My co-workers defend the blackface by saying “its because they climb down sooty chimneys”. I reply with: “oh yeah? Why are his clothes so clean?!?!?" No response.
Here is a humorous take by the comedian David Sedaris that a friend passed along:
YOU MUST WATCH THIS (IF YOU WANT A LAUGH!!!) sorry there are 3 links to the video-- in total it will take you 15mins to watch, but pretty funny!
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbJpRLhaSqs
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU1D1HKTDCY
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g17Pl7MFMco
Till next time...
Sarah & Steve
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