Essentializing ‘Black Pete’: competing narratives surrounding the Sinterklaas tradition in the Netherlands

摘要: AbstractThe Netherlands’ most important tradition, the celebration of feast Saint Nicholas, (Sinterklaas) has become subject to nation-wide contestation. As Dutch society more multicultural, partly due immigration from former colonies in West-Indies, new sensitivities have arisen about this institutionalised heritage practice. At core controversy is figure Black Pete (Zwarte Piet), Nicholas’ black-faced companion. Some communities within perceive as highly menacing and insulting. To majority population, however, Zwarte Piet an essential part its identity. The ensuing can be understood a matter narratives conflicting. These do not just give meaning but are also instrumentalized by actors debate achieve their goals. They used justify or reject appearance Piet, critically In t...