Sinterklaasdag

Happy Sinterklaasdag America! Tonight is the night that Sinterklaas brings gifts of chocolate letters, speculaas, and other sweets to the good children of the Netherlands. He rides his big white horse to the cities to present these gifts in the shoes of the kids. If the kids are naughty, however, Sinterklaas has his big black helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), stuff them into sacks. Now, America would never allow Zwarte Piet. Zwarte Piet has a big nose and huge red lips. Mostly Zwarte Piet is a white person wearing black makeup. I believe that's illegal in the U.S. At least on stage. However, it's wrong to say that a cultural tradition offends. I personally like it when Zwarte Piet hugs tiny children in the street- his white hands stretching around the backs of young children. It's so odd.

I think I may leave a shoe by my door- just to see if anything happens. But, when I think about my last year, I'll probably end up in a sack. Happy Sinterklaasdag, America!