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Companions of Saint Nicholas
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=== Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) === {{pov-section|date=November 2021}} [[File:Sintenpiet.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet]] {{main|Zwarte Piet|Père Fouettard}} ''Zwarte Piet'' ({{langx|en|Black Peter or Black Pete}}, {{langx|fr|Père-Fouettard}}, meaning father whipper) is the companion of Saint Nicholas ({{langx|nl|[[Sinterklaas]]}}) in the [[folklore of the Low Countries]]. The character first appeared in his current form in an 1850 book by Jan Schenkman and is commonly depicted as a [[Blackamoors (decorative arts)|blackamoor]]. Traditionally Zwarte Piet is said to be [[Black people|black]] because he is a [[Moors|Moor]] from Spain.<ref name=BDF>{{cite book|title=Christmas: A Candid History |first=Bruce David |last=Forbes |year=2007 |place=University of California Press}}</ref> Participants portraying Zwarte Piet typically wear [[blackface]] make-up, by painting their faces black, wearing exaggerated red lipstick, and a "nappy" or "kinky" wig, as well as colorful [[1550–1600 in fashion|Renaissance]] attire and gold earrings. The character has become a reoccurring subject of controversy, especially in the Netherlands, for its perceived cultural and ethnic insensitivity. Historically, Zwarte Piet is referred to as a servant, not a companion.<ref name="Felicity Morse">{{cite web | publisher= Huffington Post|location= UK | author= Felicity Morse | url= http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/12/06/zwarte-piet-black-pete-christmas-dutch-netherlands_n_2249412.html |title=Zwarte Piet: Opposition Grows To 'Racist Black Pete' Dutch Tradition |access-date= 27 October 2012 }}</ref> Like Knecht Ruprecht, he was traditionally the one punishing ill-behaved children by beating them with a birch rod or even taking them back to Spain in a sack he carried (which on arrival contained the gifts for the good children). However, in the 20th century these punishments were abolished and Zwarte Piet became a friendly character, although the punishments can still be heard in Sinterklaas songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stnicholascenter.org/how-to-celebrate/resources/music/songs/dutch/|title=St. Nicholas Center ::: Dutch Sinterklaas Songs|website=www.stnicholascenter.org|access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>
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