Each year the department store "the Bijenkorf" has climbing Black Petes going up and down in the atrium as decoration for the Sinterklaas feast of December 5th. Black Pete is the companion of Saint Nicolas who brings presents to the children every year.
This year I noticed a subtile difference, they had no face but a golden mask.
This is a picture of last year.
Traditonally Black Pete is said to be black because he is a Moor from Spain and accompanied the Bishop Saint Nicolas on his travel from Spain to the Netherlands dressed in colourful Renaissance clothes with black make-up and a curly wig. In recent years the character has become the subject of controversy here with heated discussions that Pete can not be black anymore in these modern times.
Lindo gostei destas decorações.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenUm abraço e continuação de uma boa semana.
Maybe even Pete will have to catch up with the times.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI love Christmas rituals! St. Nick ALWAYS came to my house on Dec 4 eve, and what a joy to find my shoe filled with candy, a small gift, and a tangerine. There always was a small lump of coal tucked into the toe, just as a reminder!!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHow cool, I like the climbing Petes. A fun sight to see! Have a happy day!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBlack Pete is an interesting tradition. I guess I don't quite understand, if Black Pete is said to be a Moor, why he should be anything but black.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThese "modern times" are becoming ever increasingly annoying.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenBlack Pete is one cool dude.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI think it's silly and over-reaction to change something that is part of a story that hurts or degrades no one. I can't tell for sure: are these mechanics Petes or human? How fun to see!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThese are mechanics, but in the streets are human ones.
VerwijderenQuite elaborate decorations. I can see both sides of the controversy, though this seems a good compromise.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI was wondering about that one. I think the objection would be that it was blackface or a white person made up as black person. I do find the black person with Sinter Klaas interesting as we don't have that here.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI have never heard of Black Pete before so today I learned something new!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGosh haven't seen anything like this before Marianne. The world really is getting too weird about political correctness!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI remember Black Pete. I don't think any harm was intended by the blackened faces.....but maybe I would feel different if I had a black face. Beautiful displays and photos.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThis is new for me. But I'm sure all these look very wonderful.
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