So this is Christmas?

Being the culturally sensitive Renaissance man that I am, I've always been curious about the ways other countries spin the story of Christmas. I'm not talking about Jesus in the lowly cattleshed or anything, but the extras, the frills we've mixed into the story. I think we've become a tad complacent in our understanding of the holiday; our Santa, we assume, is everyone's Santa. Not so.

While the tradition of presents giving seems to be common to most Christian cultures' tradition, who gives the presents to the children varies. Faeries, saints, Christmas witches, even the Christ-child himself (though I imagine his arms would be somewhat restricted by the swaddling clothes) are all thought to bring treats and presents to deserving children. But of all the present-bestowing folk associated with Christmas, my favourite has to be Black Peter from the Netherlands.

In fairness, Black Peter is depicted as the associate (to be read: slave) of St Nicholas, the common Christmas saint who serves as the model of our Santa Claus. See, during the Middle Ages, the Dutch called the Devil "Black Peter." Somehow, as Dutch Christmas traditions were sorting themselves out, it was believed that St. Nick enslaved "Black Peter" and made him hand out presents to the good little Dutch children on the night before St. Nicholas Day (December 6). And if the children weren't all that good? Well, no lump o' coal in Holland. The children were said to be kidnapped by Black Peter. As the legend evolved, the representation of Black Peter took on political overtones. He became dark-skinned and dressed in the costume of Moorish Spain, for whom the Dutch had a particular hatred for having been controlled by Spain for a time. And where does Black Peter take the naughty children? Spain.

A friend of mine, Chuck, was telling me about growing up in Holland. He remembers being in school and having St Nicholas and Black Peter turn up to give presents to the students at an assembly. One little boy in particular was, according to Chuck, a notorious troublemaker, a real jerk. When Nick and Pete came to that kid, let's call him Johnny, St Nicholas looked down at and said in a booming voice, "And you, Johnny have been very naughty." With that Black Peter picked Johnny up and stuffed him in the sack that had held the presents. Apparently Johnny was always much better behaved after that.