Dec
4
2009
December 5th
Author: Carolyn van Es-VinesLast week marked my 10th anniversary of living in the Netherlands. Gefeliciteerd, congratulations to me!
3,650 days I’ve cycled in the rain (a good thousand of those days with at least one child strapped in a seat either on the handlebars or behind me), attempted to speak Dutch without making a fool of myself, eaten stompoot (traditional meal made with mashed potatoes, kale or any other green, leafy veggie and bacon bits served with smoked sausage or meatballs), partaken in the Koninginnedag festivities (celebration of the queen’s birthday when the Dutch dress up in orange, hold yard sales and drink) and celebrated Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day).
Actually, that’s not true: I’ve always stood on the sideline of December 5th, when Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet come banging on the door and leave a sack of presents and other goodies to kiddies who are, by that time, bouncing off the walls in anticipation. Honestly, it took me a couple of years to get over the whole Black Pete/blackface controversy, which I blogged about last year ago, but I have moved beyond it. And, boy, am I glad I have because for the first time in ten years, I finally understand the thrill of it.
Chloe, Paige and Friend in Piet and Sint Hats
I owe that to my six-year-old daughter, Chloë, whose enthusiasm and matter-of-fact explanations about everything leading up to the big day (tomorrow) have been as infectious as the swine flu, which she may have just had. She’s even spread it to her two-year-old sister Paige, who, even though she has no clue what it’s really all about, she jumps up and down when she gets a present in her shoe because Chloë jumps up and down. In fact, Chloë and I baked peppernoten (spiced cookies that Pete throws to the kiddies) yesterday and plan to bake more this afternoon.
I can’t wait until tomorrow when the day will culminate in a new tradition that hubby and I are creating in our own little American/Dutch, black/white/mixed family. Right before dinner hubby and I are going to sit at the table and play a couple of games with our little girls. Then we’re going to clear the table and lay out our hot plate, which we only seem to use at this time of year, and grill our pieces of peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, chicken breast, sausage, hamburger and steak – Bennihana style.
Then I’m going to make up a batch of homemade eggnog, and as I’m adding the cognac – whiskey for hubby – the neighbors will bang on front door, pretending to be the Klaas. Chloë and Paige will scream and jump up and down and race to open the door. The gleam of utter pleasure in their little eyes as together they yell out their thanks to Sinterklaas and drag the bag of presents into the living room is what the day is all about.
Sometimes we Americans – black and white – living here get too caught up in imposing racism on a custom that may or may not be deserving of it. We could try focusing less on that, and when we do our attention will be freed up to be placed on the sheer joy of the season. We’ll be able to devote our attention to creating new traditions that bump out the old negativity.
Sunday morning, December 6th, after Sinterklaas, his horse Americo and Pete have boarded the steamboat and are on their way back to Spain, hubby and I will take our precious girls to the garden center to buy a beautiful Christmas tree. As we’re decorating it later, we’ll drink up whatever’s left of the eggnog, I’ll put on my Christmas Carol playlist and pass along to my girls a bit of my culture. That’s what I’ve learned in the last ten years, and that’s what I want them to carry into the future.
December 4th, 2009 at 15:45
Sounds lovely and wonderful. I can’t help but to feel slightly envious but in the good way, I promise. I hope you and the family enjoy this holiday season.
December 5th, 2009 at 02:16
Oh, Carolyn, being Dutch, I enjoyed reading this! Sinterklaas really is so much fun for the kids, but my children didn’t grow up with it because once I married my American prince we never lived in Holland. We did live in Indonesia for a couple of years and there the Dutch expat community celebrated it. My older, blond blue-eyed daughter was even dressed up and painted as a Black Peter.
I never thought about the Zwarte Piet / Black Peter issue until last year when I read about it somewhere. It’s all just innocent fun for the Dutch, but it is understandable that Americans have a negative gut reaction to seeing Black Peter.
Anyway, I applaud your take on the holiday and making it fun for the kids. And making your own family traditions is a very important thing.
Veel plezier morgen!
December 5th, 2009 at 03:01
Hallo Carolyn! I enjoyed reading this. It’s so beautiful that your daughters have a very rich cultural heritage of African-American and Dutch. Happy 10th Anniversary in Holland and Happy Holidays
December 6th, 2009 at 08:24
Thanks a lot, Phylise. How are your plans going? Still excited?
December 6th, 2009 at 08:28
Hi Miss Footloose,
Het was ontzettend gezellig gisteren! It also takes Dutch people like you (and my husband) who can understand why Piet might be offensive to Americans to change the environment a bit. Nothing wrong with dialogue. Happy holidays to you.
December 6th, 2009 at 08:30
Thank you, Cynthia. We had a beautiful day and evening. Oh, and a little envy never hurt anyone. It can even motivate you to make some changes of your own!!!!
December 6th, 2009 at 12:11
the year i lived in belgium, i had to deal with zwarte piet’s rap music video, which my ex’s daughter made me dance to with her. her only idea of race was me, and if anyone called me ‘zwarte’ in her presence, she’d say, ’she’s not black. she’s just a little brown. and AMERICAN, you know!’ i figured if she could have my back, i could not ruin zwarte piet for her. the irony here is that apparently sinterklaas and zwarte piet are from spain… where i now live.
December 6th, 2009 at 16:24
Congratulations on your anniversary! I just discovered your blog and from what I see, you are making the most of being away from “home” (US). I look forward to reading your book!
December 7th, 2009 at 07:17
Thanks for sharing your lovely holiday thoughts. Sounds joyful and includes some food for thought.
December 7th, 2009 at 20:26
Its good that you let your girls be children and celebrate this very Dutch holiday just like all other children. I don’t like the blackface but to deny a child the chance to take part would be wrong.
December 8th, 2009 at 09:29
Hi Ebony,
Exactly. You’ll see in a few years how those weeks transform under Rafael’s excitement. Thanks for commenting. See you Saturday?
December 8th, 2009 at 09:30
Hi Kuri,
You’re welcome, and thank you for taking the time to comment! Are you in Tokyo?
December 8th, 2009 at 09:59
Thanks, BMP.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:01
Hi BMP,
it’s nice to “meet” you. Being away for so long, I see some issues with the eye of an outsider. But, I was on the inside for so long that now I feel like it’s a more balanced perspective. Well, you know something about that, don’t you…….
December 11th, 2009 at 06:13
I love the customs you are about to create. Sounds like raclette ypu are doing with the food. We do that around New Years.
December 13th, 2009 at 09:01
Except we don’t use that nasty, stinking cheese (lol). You have a beautiful holiday season, Courtney. Thank you for all your support.