Sinterklaas has helpers and we call them 'Zwarte Piet' which translates to Black Pete.
Foreigners visiting will be very surprised to see that the Dutch version of Sinterklaas helpers have their face painted black, wear afro wigs and have red lips, and yes, that does depict the racist caricatue of a black person.
(We are the founders of Apartheid so you shouldn't be too surprised.)
The overwhelming majority of Dutchies are very devoted to this holiday tradition of the Sint and his helpers and insist that he's a harmless fictional figure who doesn't represent any race (or gender for that matter) but over the years there is a growing number of people who are questioning whether "Zwarte Piet' should have a make over or be banished entirely from the scene. Someone even made a Facebook page called 'Zwarte Piet is racism': https://www.facebook.com/zwartepietisblackface.
I think this is complete bollocks and we should keep this tradition alive as part of our cultural heritage. More people having problems with Zwarte Piet just shows me that they don't have real important stuff to worry about. Good for them. Too bad for all the suffering people in the world caught up in war and/or hunger who could use people to worry for them.
Now go eat some fucking peppernuts.
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