Here in the Netherlands, the discussion has been going on for years about whether or not to keep Zwarte Piet. A lot of people find it discriminatory and others say it has nothing to do with discrimination at all.

The fact remains that the 700-year-old tradition exists in the Netherlands. And that it has a whole history before it. Sinterklaas is officially from Turkey. Indeed, he is based on the bishop Nicholas of Myra.

But the discussion is therefore about Sinterklaas's helpers, namely the black piers. They have a bit of a link to the Moors and slavery. But because Zwarte Piet, according to tradition, has to go through the chimney regularly to deliver the presents, you will automatically become black. So I also explained this to my children when they were young.

But is it time to keep up with the modern era and use colored piers? So how do you explain why a piet is green, or orange or blue. The last color is still possible due to the cold. But you won't get the rest explained very well anyway? You can do what you want, but there is no other color of dust in the chimney. At least not with me.

I would love to hear your opinion. And would you like to explain it?

Image of Ylanite Cups via Pixabay

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