Burning effigies to blacking faces....we are so un-PC!

Recently, in the Netherlands, there has been much debate about the practice of having a 'blackened faced" man as Santa's little helper and it has led me to ponder on this and a few other traditions that may not fall under the term "politically correct."

Sinterklaas with Zwarte Piets arrive in Heusden, NL

For those of you not familiar with the Dutch tradition of Zwarte Piet, let me enlighten you. Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa Claus, arrives in the Netherlands in mid November from Spain by steam-boat, accompanied by his black-faced Moorish slave, Piet. To celebrate Sinterklaas' arrival on his white horse the Dutch, & Belgians, all welcome Piet & Sinterklaas by singing and dressing their children up like Zwarte Piet, complete with blackened faces. They are then rewarded by candy thrown to them by Zwarte Piet and his many, also blacked faced, helpers. Bear in mind that all of these "Piets" are actually white & coated with black makeup with painted red lips and afro hair wigs. Nowadays the "PC" families tell their children his face his black because of his exploits in the chimney but there is much debate every year about the racist aspect of this "blackened faced" slave. This year the UN became involved when a member commented on the slave angle of this tradition. The Dutch are divided on this issue and the racist/not racist debate continues, not least of all in my home. It is a strange throwback to a time past that, understandably, some find offensive especially as a "fifth of the Dutch population consists of people of color" according to the UK paper the Guardian. We'll wait to see how this custom survives or changes in the future.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/05/black-pete-race-netherlands

This debate made me wonder about many of our traditions, that are based in events from history that we, if we looked clearly at, might think are a little politically in-correct these days! Take for example the British tradition of Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night. When you begin to explain this to non-Brits you begin to realize that it could portray us in a slightly odd way! Here we go.... James I was a Protestant king and the Catholics were not happy, they wanted a Catholic monarch. Guy Fawkes and his friends decided to blow up the Houses Of Parliament along with the king in 1605 in order to put their choice of leader on the throne...a nine year old girl! (No, her name was not Hermione!) Fawkes was a soldier with knowledge of gunpowder (ironically learned whilst fighting the Dutch in the Eighty Years war!) and planted 36 barrels under the Parliament buildings but whilst waiting to "light the blue touch paper and retire"was caught, after someone in the government received an anonymous message. During torture, (presumably the threat of being made to watch Prime Minister's Question Time), he revealed all and his fellow revolutionaries were rounded up and "hung, drawn and quartered." To celebrate this capture we now dress up a scarecrow as a "Guy" place him on a bonfire, set fire to him and light fireworks. So, yes, the British, it would seem, celebrate by burning a Catholic! Try explaining that to the Pope!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-24818807

I guess the celebration of Christopher Columbus Day in the USA is a little controversial given that he "In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue," but did not discover the New World (that was Leif Erikson) and never even set foot in North America, he was more of a Caribbean island hopper. Despite the rum punch and lazing about on the beaches, he didn't actually embrace the chilled island mentality but brutally killed and destroyed many native people. Not really an icon to celebrate either!

I am left wondering what other international traditions are similarly controversial. Is there a Viking pillager that has a national day in Norway, a convict that is celebrated in Australia or a past mafioso in Italy that gives candy out to children? It leaves me with this question, what character will future generations adopt from our culture.....and will it be "PC"?