Traditionally welcomed

A traditional arrival of Sinterklaas with his Black Peters in Delft today and little kiddies & their parents excited over meeting them, I like the tête à tête I put in the extra. As always the Black Peters did some acrobatics too, like climbing into a tree. 

Since 5 years the Black Peters are claimed by a growing number of people as a national racistic out-cry and some think they should be presented as Color Peters or even be banned totally ... it's a traditional Santa feast for centuries in the Netherlands and Belgium, even in Germany and Austria he's celebrated to some extent. His helpers who were sooted black from the chimneys according to the old stories are now regarded by a growing number of people as ridiculised black slaves and we should shame ourselves for keeping up this traditional children's party. I think it's a lovely children's party and they don't mind if Peters are painted brown or black or blue or red or sooted; but to tell them this is an act of racism I don't buy. Glad there was no rioting in Delft today.

Black Pieters Anno 2016  after some 50 secs you'll see them in this Sinterklaas Journal