The Pagan Heart

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Sinterklaas and Zwart Piet By Axiom     There is a close familial relationship between St Nicholas, Sinterklaas, De Kerstman, Christkindle, Kris Kringle and the Weihnachtsmann, some of whom are accompanied by "evil twins" such as Zwart Piet, Peltz Nickel and Belsnickle. They are all European versions of Santa Claus. The basic story has darker roots than our modern versions, and I have returned to this - to the idea of Sinterklaas as a balancing force - one who encourages children to seek the goodness within themselves, but hesitates not to punish those who turn away. The basic elements of the following story are true to the scraps of the tradition I could track down:     Sometime in the middle of November, when the cold winds begin to really freeze your toes, and summer seems so far away, Sinterklaas sets out on his long journey from Spain all the way to Europe. If you should happen to see him, you'll wonder, is this Sinterklaas, or someone's grandfather? He is a tall, tall man, straight as his shepherd's crook with a kindly face, all wrinkled from smiling. Thick white hair spills across his shoulders, and when the moonlight strikes it just right, you can see tiny snowflakes glistening among the strands. A grey beard, thick and wavy as the ocean, tumbles over his broad chest. Pulled tight about his ears he wears a red velvet cap trimmed with soft silvery rabbit's fur. A long red robe, furlined boots and a strange empty sack complete his outfit. The sack glitters as he swings it up upon his shoulder - golden thread joins a multitude of brocade, satin and velvet scraps into a glorious rainbow of colour. But your questions will die and you will know he is the true Sinterklaas when you see his two companions - Schimmel and Zwart Piet. Schimmel is a beautiful white stallion, brushed to gleaming perfection. His eyes are large and glow a rich golden colour, and when he whinnies it is the sound of thunder rolling in the mountains. He canters faster than the wind, his tail streaming like lightning behind him. And in his wake comes the wind of deepest winter - heavy with the soft, silent snow that blankets the land as he passes. Running alongside Schimmel you will see Zwart Piet, a Turkish orphan dressed in baggy pantaloons of orange silk, a green brocade jacket and a huge maroon turban. His legs move so fast they blur into a cloud of orange. Atop his turban waves a two-foot long ostrich feather. The last thing you will see as they race past is the large burlap sack Zwart Piet carries slung over his shoulder. For those whose hearts are not true, the sight of Zwart Piet's grinning face will shake your bones. It is a good thing that Zwart Piet and Schimmel are so fast for Sinterklaas needs to be in Europe by the fifth day of December. That night, with the speedy help of Zwart Piet and Schimmel, he hurries about the countryside hiding gifts in the homes of all the good children. Some places he knocks on the doors and the parents, waiting up while their schildren slumber, let him in. But there are otherplaces where everyone has gone to bed, and so Schimmel leaps up onto the roof and quietly waits while Sinterklaas slides down the chimney, his strange sack clutched firmly in one hand. Magically, his clothes and skin remain clean, despite the soot and cinders. Zwart Piet jumps down after him and follows Sinterklaas as he creeps about through the rooms hiding toys and treats in all sorts of strange places - in the wood pile, in the laundry basket...even in the potato bin. Each toy or treat he leaves for the true-hearted child or children of the house is carefully drawn from the empty bag, and each one is exactly what the little boy or girl wanted most in the world. Many of the children also remember Schimmel and leave fresh hay and carrots out for him - tucked into their clean shoes and left upon the windowsill. These, Sinterklaas rewards with an extra special trinket. But there are also sullen children, whose hearts beat with a hollow echo. Sinterklaas and Zwart Piet hear the dull thumping and know those children. His face grim, Sinterklaas draws forth from his sack a slender switch of birch and chases them about the house for a while and then leaves them to Zwart Piet. When Zwart Piet catches them, as he always does, he bundles them up into his sack where they stay. Such children are taken away and put to work at Sinterklaas's home - making all the toys for the next Christmas. The last thing Sinterklaas does before leaving the house is to pour yummy sweets and little trinkets into the treasured stockings hanging from each little bed. Then he leaves the way he entered - either through the door with a quiet nod to the parents, or back up the chimney with a swift leap. As you can guess, the night is a very busy one. These days, there are so many houses and so many children that it would be hard indeed to manage to visit each one. But they are lucky enough to have helper-Sinterklaases. These kind men, often the fathers and uncles of the children, dress up in costumes like those worn by Sinterklaas and Zwart Piet and help distribute the rewards. Unable to hear the hearts of their children, they rely instead upon the behaviour - those who have been naughty receive lumps of coal instead of presents. The next morning, exhausted from the hard work, Sinterklaas and his companions have still more to do. It is Sinterklaas's birthday, and all over the countryside the people hold wonderful parties to celebrate. Sinterklaas, Zwart Piet and Schimmel attend as many as they can - thankful for all the helpers who take their place at the rest. They eat the delicious cakes and chocolates, drink the warm cider, and give out more treats to the children from the wonderous sack. The children dance about, daring to stroke Schimmel's mane and offer him apples. Zwart Piet, chuckling and capering about, chases the children and tries to stuff them into his bag - but they always escape. For these are the children with true hearts. Finally, the evening draws near and Sinterklaas mounts Schimmel one last time. Weary beneath his heavy bag, Zwart Piet grips tight to Schimmel's stirrup and trots alongside as they head home towards Spain. Zwart Piet's bag is filled with the sound of sobbing as all the children weep and moan, scared at the unknown that awaits them. Many promise to be better, and their heart changes, beating with the lightness of a starling's wings. Zwart Piet hears this and and when he tips them out of the sack at the journey's end, they find themselves tumbling into their own sweet beds. Grateful, these children clutch their pillows and burrow into their blankets. Slumber steals over them, and hearts light, they close their eyes. Those that change not are put to work in Sinterklaas's palace, making toys and sweets. Some discover the seed of goodness within themselves and when they awaken the next morning, it is to find themselves in their own beds once more. But others never change, and those children stay with Sinterklaas, forever young and forever toiling.     Return to "Myth, Magic, and Madness" for more stories.

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December 2004 Issue