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local Monday 5 deceMber 2022

Fifth of December: a beautiful night for children in the Dutch Kingdom

ORANJESTAD – On Decem- Pakjesavond
ber 5th, Dutch people cel- According to sinterklaas-
ebrate Sinterklaas, a festiv- feestdag.nl, Pakjesavond –
ity where children receive or, night of little gifts – is cli-
sweets and small toys if max of the celebration of
they leave their shoes out the feast of Sinterklaas. On
with grass for Sinterklaas’ this night, children receive
white horse. the most gifts. Pakjesavond
is celebrated with family or
Before that, Sinterklaas ar- friends, with people singing
rives in Aruba and with his special Sinterklaas carols.
“Piets”, and this year, they On this night, Sinterklaas
arrived on the 13th of No- and his Petes come by with
vember. a sack full of gifts. Mostly
they place this sack by the
Sinterklaas is represented front door or by a window,
by a man dressed in red knock on the window or
attire with white hair and ring the doorbell, and run
a white beard, he is rep- away quickly. Very rarely
resenting Saint Nicolas, a they do a personal visit to
bishop from the 4th century a child and answer all their
who lived in what is now questions.
Turkey. From the 11th cen-
tury, the stories about his Pakjesavond became a
miracles became known vember, although his Piets servant of Saint Nicholas in entire face black, with popular celebration after
in Western Europe, and he look a little different nowa- Sint-Nikolaas en zijn knecht big lips and gold rings – to the Second World War,
became a patron saint for days. (“St. Nicholas and His Ser- many, this represents slav- that is with a sack full of
children. vant/Apprentice”), pub- ery and discrimination. gifts that are distributed on
The feast of Sinterklaas President of the Commis- lished in 1850 by Amster- that night. Before this time,
has been celebrated for sion for the Celebration of dam schoolteacher Jan “The movement came children would simply put
at least 700 years in the National Holidays, Lyonel Schenkman; however, the not only from the Nether- their shoes outside and re-
Netherlands. The story of his Dirks explained that for two tradition appears to date lands but also the world ceived their small gifts in
companions, Zwarte Piet – years, the arrival of Sinter- back at least as far as the and the United Nations. In the morning. The whole
“Black Pete” – came from klaas was not an event for early 19th Century. Aruba we know also that family did get together on
a book by Jan Schenkman children to attend because children from a young age pakjesavond to celebrate
written in 1850, but the of the Covid-19 pandemic. Zwarte Piet’s colorful dress are teased by being called the climax of the feast of
commercialization of the This year, Sinterklaas will ar- is based on 16th-century Zwarte Piet, and they feel Sinterklaas together.
day began in the 1930s. rive at 10am at Aruba Ports noble attire, with a ruff discriminated against. This
Traditionally, children re- Authority, from where he (lace collar) and a feath- is why, seeing everything After the war, wealth be-
ceived the present in their will board Harbour Arena, ered cap. He is typically that is going on, two years came available and Sin-
shoe on the 6th of Decem- and continue with a pa- depicted carrying a bag ago we decided that the terklaas was able to give
ber, the official day of Saint rade as became custom- which contains candy for arrival of Sinterklaas, which more gifts to all children.
Nicholas in the Catholic ary the last few years. the children. The Zwarte receives public funding, Increasingly, people give
calendar, but the celebra- Dirks said that this year Pieten toss their candy cannot be something that each other more gifts with
tion gradually shifted to the the parade will be a little around, a tradition suppos- brings discrimination. This is poems and little surprises,
5th of December, known as shorter, as requested by edly originating in the story why we decided to come anonymously to main-
“pakjesavond”. the groups that have been of Saint Nicholas saving up with colorful Piets”, tain an atmosphere of
participating for many three young girls from pros- Maduro pointed out. secrecy.q
Sinterklaas vs. Santa Claus years, and so the parade titution by tossing golden
It is said that Sinterklaas will end at Plaza Padu. coins through their window
was the precursor of Santa at night to pay their dow-
Claus. Historians believe “This is the centre where ries.
that Dutch and German the celebration will con- Something that was previ-
settlers took the tradition tinue as Sinterklaas and his ously announced is that this
with them to America. Piets arrive in Aruba. There year the Piets will be color-
There, his Catholic garb will be activities with differ- ful instead of black. Edselyn
was gradually transformed ent dance groups, shows, Figaroa also prepared a
into the jolly non-sectarian and when Sinterklaas ar- book that will be published
red suit with the white fur rives around 12 or 1pm, the soon, called Piet Acade-
trim we are all so familiar celebration will continue my, which will tell the story
with. Additionally, his lithe until 2pm”, he said. or why the Piets will have
frame gave way to a well- colorful faces this year.
padded potbelly, and his Colorful Piet
trusty white steed was trad- Sinterklaas is assisted by Minister of Culture and Fi-
ed in for a troupe of rein- many mischievous help- nance, Xiomara Maduro
deer. Either way, both Sin- ers with that traditionally explained that there was
terklaas and Santa Claus wore black faces and col- controversy regarding the
stand for the generosity of orful Moorish dresses. These color of the Piets. This is a
spirit and kindness to chil- companions are called Dutch tradition, but some
dren. Zwarte Piet (“Black Pete”). people consider that it in-
Sinterklaas will be arriving Zwarte Piet first appeared cludes discrimination with
in Aruba on the 13th of No- in print as the nameless Zwarte Piet painting their