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ADDITIONAL LINKS FOR STUDY:
This
character is "honored" to this day around
the world, in such places as: Germany, Liberia,
Mexico, The Netherlands and France.
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IS SANTA CLAUS RACIST?
This character appears around the world
(and only around Christmas time)
wearing colourful costumes gold earrings and hats
with feathers and is generally considered gifted
with somewhat less than
the average intelligence. His role is to
assist Sinterklaas (The dutch version of
Santa Claus!) by performing various holiday
tasks, like delivering presents down chimneys and
recording names of naughty and nice children in
Sinterklaas' book of names.
Despite his colourful image, he is a
VERY controversial character in the
Netherlands. He gets his name from either his
complexion or the soot from the chimneys he slides
down or both. He is often criticised as being an
old-fashioned stereotype and racist symbol of
slavery.
Additional legends connected with
this character:
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He is charged with "taking away"
bad children in a bag.
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(In Europe) Some legends suggest
that this character is actually "the devil
"and that after being conquered by a Saint
(Nicholas), he is made to climb down chimneys,
through fire, to leave gifts.
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Another legend makes this
character a Moor from North Africa.
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(In Holland) He comes to punish
bad children by whipping them or chasing after
them with a stick.
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It is said that this character
keeps a ledger of the good and bad
behavior of children.
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Its also noted that this character
would leave coal in the stockings of bad
children to remind them that if they did not
repent of their behavior, then they would surely
go to Hell one day.
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(In Morrocco) People identify him
as being Santa Claus
Can you name one or all of his
names?
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BLACK HISTORY QUIZ ANSWER
BHQ
ANSWERS:
He is usually called Black Pete or Black Peter. He is also named as Zwarte Piete
(in Holland), Hoesecker (in Luxenbourg),
Pere Fouettard (in France) and Knecht Ruprecht (in
Germany).
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