Sun, 22 November 2009
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Just when you thought you'd heard enough about Sinterklaas already, former politician Lousewies van der Laan gives us some seasonal politics: Sinterklaas vs Santa Claus.Yes, as the festive season descends upon us, even in the Netherlands we have political debates about Sinterklaas (the bearded bishop you see sold in chocolate in your local supermarket).
It's not along the American lines of replacing the Christian-centred "Merry Christmas" with the more neutral "Season's Greetings". No, it is a full-fledged economic and cultural battle between our great traditional Sinterklaas and that tacky American Santa.
Purists will point out that whereas Christmas has descended into a competitive "my-gift-is-more-expensive-than-yours" feast, gifts from Sinterklaas are truly anonymous and as such more in the true spirit of giving.
In addition, a poem is often included, which allows for mild reprimands, which the Calvinist Dutch adore. Finally, there is the "surprise" (pronounced sur-pree-za) whereby you do something artistic like wrap your present up to resemble something different or organise a trail with hints through the house. All much more industrious and creative than having Macy's wrap it for you.
Doesn't Santa just have
Santa's defenders have two big arguments. Firstly, since Santa is being pushed by Coca Cola and Hollywood, Sinterklaas is bound to lose out. Why pick a loser's battle? But recently the Dutch film industry has come to the rescue with a follow-up to the wildly popular movie about Sinterklaas' horse. In addition, after his official arrival Saturday the 17th at Scheveningen harbour, there is 'Sinterklaas-news' for kids every day until he departs again on the 6 December. Eat your heart out Santa. 
a touch of 'je ne sais quoi'
The second argument against Sinterklaas is, of course, that he walks around with black helpers and is therefore at best colonial and at worst racist. Sorry, but all Dutch kids know that Zwarte Piet is not a black man, he simply has soot on his face from climbing up and down the chimney.
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