"Her story goes back to pagan times, but in more recent centuries she has become part of Christmas - making the trip down to the towns and cities, searching for naughty children.
And Zwarte Piet from the Netherlands:
"Until the 19th Century, Sinterklaas did his own dirty work, bringing good children presents, but taking bad ones away in his sack for re-education and a beating.
But in 1850, children's author Jan Schenkman drew him with a black servant, who later became known as Zwarte Piet. It is now Zwarte Piet's job to go down the chimney to deliver presents and catch the less fortunate children."
It's a fun, quick read with some surprising information-although maybe less surprising if you're already familiar with the dark side of folklore and how it has become more and more tamed over the years.
Thanks for a good read, I read the whole article. Italy has a witch, as well. It's very funny to see all the witch-and-broom puppets hanging up in the shops around Christmastime there!
ReplyDeleteThe storyline was quite engaging and had a suspenseful buildup. It almost felt like watching a thriller unfold. By the way, the character styling reminded me of some of the elegant formal dresses for women in Pakistan — simple yet impactful.
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