Zwarte Piet (Dutch: [ˈzʋɑrtə ˈpit]; Luxembourgish: Schwaarze Péiter; West Frisian: Swarte Pyt; Indonesian: Pit Hitam), also known in English by the translated name Black Pete, is the companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch: Sinterklaas; French: Saint-Nicolas; West Frisian: Sinteklaas; Luxembourgish: Kleeschen) in the folklore of the Low Countries.

Nov 29, 2018 · This prompts the question: what is the origin of the black Santa Claus? The legend of Santa Claus is very loosely based on the real life person, Saint Nicholas. St. Nicholas lived …

Nicholas, was probably born during the third century in the village of Patara, in what is now the southern coast of Turkey. He was born of very wealthy ethnic black Anatolians of the ancient Roman Empire.

Dec 25, 2016 · Although Saint Nicholas has been portrayed in icons as a white man with rosy red cheeks for centuries, a modern-day forensic study of the bishop’s bones discovered that he resembled a light ...

Jan 11, 2025 · Zwarte Piet is a character in Dutch folklore who serves St. Nicholas (in Dutch, Sinterklaas) in St. Nicholas Day (December 6 and its eve) festivities in the Netherlands. …

Nov 14, 2021 · Since the 19th century, Dutch Christmas traditions hold that Sinterklaas is aided by Black Pete aka Zwarte Piet, a servant wearing blackface.

During this lengthy time, the tradition has evolved from this black servant character being primarily responsible for discipline into a fun-loving, joking sidekick to the more remote Sinterklaas. It is the Piets that do acrobatic stunts and distribute treats.

Dec 9, 2016 · America's biggest shopping mall hosted its first African American Father Christmas this year - but black Santas have been around for decades and even played a role in the civil rights movement.

Dec 29, 2013 · So Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas and Black Peter are more complicated than how they are treated in the popular press. Black Peter is controversial because the Dutch smear themselves with black face when performing that role.

Dec 6, 2017 · The earliest reported instances of Black people being mocked as Zwarte Piet date from 1927. A Black man had to appear before the Rotterdam police judge because he'd beaten a dockworker. His defense was that he'd been insulted and said that Black people were constantly mocked as Zwarte Piet.