[PEN-L:1897] Re: Santa on the couch

[Rob Schaap <rws@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

G'day Valis,

>In Holland, where even today more is allowed to legally
>hang out, Santa has had a helper named Black Peter
>all this time; perhaps an early cover story for
>the chimney riddle.  Rob?

Santa Claus, from the Dutch Sinterklaas, waltzes into Amsterdam every
December 5 to hand out the goodies to the good kids (as I copped a beaut
wooden yacht off him in 1962, I can but assume that was one of my better
years).  He must have been quite old by then, as he first came to notice
back in 350 AD, whilst he was a Spanish-based Turkish bishop given to
roaming throughout Europe, inexplicably doling out goodies to youngsters as
he went.

One of those kids, a Turkish orphan called Piet, had pointed out to SK that
he was unemployed and in need of centuries of secure servitude.  This
naturally warmed the old bloke's heart, and he allowed him to tag along.
Piet's Turkish hue was obviously enough to warrant the 'black' tag in
lily-white Holland du juour.

The (still) young Piet excited something of an approach-avoidance conflict
in me at the time.  He's famous for forking over all sorts of yummies
(spiced little cookies called pepernootjes and logs of sumptuous marzipan),
but he's also liable to try to stuff you into his bag if you don't keep a
wary eye on him.  Mebbe the super-exploited little fella wants into a bit
of that famous Dutch job-sharing ...

The Dutch brought Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet with them to New Amsterdam,
but Yanks (itself an appellation of Dutch origin) can't leave a good story
alone (witness the Mormons), and might not have liked the idea of black
benefactors.  Anyway, old SK lost his impressive stature and Zwarte Piet
lost his job, as did Schimmel, their horse.  It's all old fat
Coca-Cola-cladding, anonymous white elves and bloody flying reindeer now.
And the big day's been put back 20 days in order duly to rationalise the
festive season, thus maximising marketing efficiencies, and minimising
productivity-defying public holidays.

So, the chimney business came in just as Zwarte Piet went out.  Which is a
pity, as Valis notes, from the point of view of the story's credibility ...

Happy 1999, everybody!

Cheers,
Rob.