A “Zwarte Piet” or “Black Pete,” jokes with children after arriving with Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicholas, by steamboat in Hoorn, northwestern Netherlands, Saturday. The tradition of Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus, is the subject of debate, where opponents say Black Petes are an offensive caricature of black people while supporters say Pete is a figure of fun whose appearance is harmless, his face soot stained from going down chimneys to deliver presents to children. |
