DutchNews.nl - CDA MPs question Sinterklaas's cross

CDA MPs question Sinterklaas's cross

Thursday 19 November 2009

Two Christian Democrat MPs have asked the home affairs and culture ministers for their opinion the removal of the Christian cross from Sinterklaas's costume in Amsterdam and Antwerp.

Sinterklaas, or St Nicholas, traditionally wears a costume based on a bishop's robes. But the MPs claim the cross has disappeared from the mitre used by the actor playing the official role in Amsterdam because of the 'multi-ethnic population' and the need to create a 'universal figure'.

According to the Volkskrant, for years, the mitre worn by Sinterklaas in Amsterdam carries the city's three cross symbol rather than the Christian cross.

The MPs Ad Koppejan and Jan Schinkeslhoek have asked the ministers to show their support for 'typical Dutch celebrations such as Sinterklaas'.

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Readers' comments

I saw him last Sunday and didn't notice the cross was missing. What I did notice was he was riding a camel and wearing a turban. I thought I was having visions...

By Claudio Garcia | November 19, 2009 8:44 AM

My god what next ???

Zwarte Piet (Black Pete)being eliminated for causing offence ?

By Karl H | November 19, 2009 9:51 AM

If we can't have 'our' golliwog on Robertson's jam, why should you be allowed to have 'Zwarte Piet' capering about? Get with the programme.

By Michael Dawkes | November 19, 2009 10:51 AM

Michael Dawkes
The reason you cannot have 'Gollywogs' on your jam is because of the do gooding, lefty, liberal, elete programming the British that it is wrong. The Dutch live and let live.
Look at the Sinterklass festivals on the internet. You will see White people 'blacking up' and 'Black' people all having a good time together NOT BEING OFFENDED.

By Karl H | November 19, 2009 11:35 AM

Sinterklaas was a Christian Bishop, and he can either be accepted with the cross, or completely ignored, no half-wit measures please. Nobody is forced to accept Sinterklaas, why should his character and image be changed?
Without Christianity, Europe would have no traditions, no justice and fairplay, but today they apply ingenious excuses to reject this fact.

By AC | November 19, 2009 2:37 PM

Karl, My comment was ironic. Believe me, I'm on your side.

By Michael Dawkes | November 20, 2009 2:59 AM

Remove the cross and abolish Black Pete, they are both symbols of colonialism, racism and opression.

By RR | November 20, 2009 10:17 PM

Is it worth pointing out that the bishop's mitre traditionally NEVER displays the cross? It usually shows the symbol of Petrine authority rather than a more universally Christian emblem.
And if we're being pedantic about historical accuracy, Saint Nicholas predates the episcopal tradition of the Roman Catholic Church by a fair few centuries, therefore Sinterklaas never actually wore a bishop's outfit at all.

And Zwarte Piet is deemed to be black as a reference to some dark-skinned boys that the Saint is believed to have saved who then became his 'helpers'. Whether or not a person takes offence at this is really down to them, don;t you think. If someone who's heritage includes the misery of racially-imposed slavery takes offence at this, who am I (or you) to argue?

Oh, sorry, did I interrupt another ill-informed rant about 'political correctness gone mad' or the 'dangers of multiculturalism'?

[Editors note: The character of Zwarte Piet, without the name, first appears in a book written in 1845]

By Monkeigh | November 27, 2009 10:45 AM

I am a member of a Dutch organization in the United States. After much debate, and reluctance on the part of some traditional members, we have decided to have four piets; two traditional black, and two "colored" piets which we understand are used in the Netherlands and Belgium. Does this make any sense?

By virginia kerkheide | November 20, 2010 8:11 PM

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