Sinterklaas Archives - Rachel's Ruminations

Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) updated

Rachel Heller — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 17:57:10 +0000

In the five years since I last wrote about Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) things have changed, mostly for the better. Black Pete is disappearing.

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Christmas Compared

Rachel Heller — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 09:53:46 +0000

It’s almost Christmas, and I’ve been thinking a lot this year about the holiday as an event. Perhaps because I was much less busy this year than in previous years leading up to it, I’ve been noticing more. Note added at Christmas 2020: While I wrote this back in 2015, these observations still apply …...

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Zwarte Piet Updated

Rachel Heller — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 15:19:25 +0000

Zwarte Piet - a tradition in the Netherlands that involves blackface - is disappearing. This post looks at the evolving situation.

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Black Pete redux

Rachel Heller — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 17:59:53 +0000

Speaking of local traditions, Sinterklaas is approaching again, and with it, the controversy over Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). As I posted last year, Sinterklaas (the holiday) takes place on December 5th. On that day, as well as the weeks leading up to it, Sinterklaas (the person) delivers gifts to children, landing on their roofs on...

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Is Black Pete racist?

Rachel Heller — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:27:33 +0000

To state the patently obvious, it’s terribly racist in this day and age for a white person to dress up in blackface and play a comic character.

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