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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MikeMorrell" data-source="post: 567798" data-attributes="member: 4674">Big day last Saturday for young Dutch young children: the (live televised) arrival of '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas" target="_blank">Sinter Klaas</a>' (St. Nicholas) in NL on his steamship from Spain. Each year at a different coastal town or city. Ably assisted (as always) by his '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet" target="_blank">Black/Sooty Pete' helpers</a>[SUP]*[/SUP]. And as always, with his white horse 'Amerigo' standing ready. Perhaps confusingly for some children, he also 'arrived' on the same day and time at some Dutch towns and cities too<img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2064%2064%22%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20font-size%3D%2254%22%3E%F0%9F%98%B3%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="22" height="22" alt=":oops:" title="Oops!    :oops:"  data-smilie="10"data-shortname=":oops:" />. Thankfully, most Dutch cities, towns and villages had scheduled their 'local arrivals for Sunday. In different ships, boats or other forms of Transport.Although the 'feast of St. Nicholas' on the 6th of December is celebrated in multiple European countries, no other country can compare to the traditional Dutch (over the top) reverence for 'SInter Klaas'!From 1 november onwards, there's a special daily (15 minute) 'Sinter Klaas' news programme on for children. Part of the Dutch 'Sinter Klaas' tradition is that - from today onwards - children put their shoes by the fireplace (or some other convenient place) in which Sinter Klaas - or one of his 'Pete' helpers - can place small gifts (such as fruit or  sweets)  in the build up to 6 December. Singing tradional 'Sinter Klaas' songs obviously increases childrens' chances of receiving a gift. As does leaving a carrot out for 'Amerigo' and a small (but strong alcoholic!) drink out for the 'Sint' or 'Pete'. Since I've been in NL (almost 50 years), supermarkets and other shops have latched on to the 'shoes' tradition. So children can get, colour and place 'paper shoes' at  every supermarket and some other shops. All supermarkets and most shops are in any case decked out in 'Sinter Klaas' decorations from early November.[SUB]*[/SUB]Over the past 60 years, the (Blackfaced) portrayal of a stereotypical 'Black Pete' has become increasingly controversial. With a growing number of Dutch - and international - critics calling it "racist". Various initiatives have been to 'tone down' or replace the stereotyping. For the past 4 years, 'Black Pete' has to some extent been rebranded as  'Sooty Pete' (Soot marks on white faces from climbing up and down chimneys). And yet, there are still vocal adult supporters of retaining the Black(faced) Pete traditions of their childhoods. There are still a small number of towns that - for whatever reason - still include 'full blackface Piet' arrivals of SinterKlaas.[MEDIA=youtube]lOCTjas_uzI[/MEDIA]<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/lOCTjas_uzI?si=MpBR3ncrbSs8scd5" target="_blank">View: https://youtube.com/shorts/lOCTjas_uzI?si=MpBR3ncrbSs8scd5</a></blockquote>