Now you have me interested in some Dutch culture
You are often told that Western Europe is so civilised and full of history and culture. Thing is that depends. After enforcing Roman Catholic Christianity for centuries religion and regional celebrations of "whatever" were often mixed up in strange ways. The date of Christmas for instance was chosen on the basis that when people have their huge annual burn to end the year Jesus' birth should be celebrated. That way the heathens are easier to get into church. Lo and behold 25-12 is the date of Christmas and Rome has won (so fuck Rome).
Now Saint-Nicholas or "Sint Nikolaas" is a bit odd. A bishop from Turkey with a base in Spain and every 05-12 he visits Dutch shores to read his list of nice and naughty children. The nice children receive presents and the naughty children receive punishment. In the old days that meant: punishment by spanking, put in a bag, brought to Spain to end up as helper/slave, beggar, monk or dead. This is the short story of the Dutch version. There are other Saint-Nicholas celebrations in the Netherlands and Europe.
About the helpers or "zwarte piet" a.k.a. black Pete: no one really knows because history is vague. They could be Spanish Mores (a tribe of people), slaves, black demons or people who fell through chimneys. The whole celebration is quite absurd and makes less sense than British knights traveling by coconut (ask King Arthur).
Many people love the absurdity of "Sinterklaas" because sweets and "gezelligheid." The racism issue made no real sense because the "this is racist" campaigners often knew less about Sinterklaas than an gold fish knows about water. "Sinterklaas" is like the human tail bone of Dutch culture: a fossil yet still interesting and fun to study or celebrate.
Now you know one thing for certain: Dutch culture can be extremely weird.
