unamerican christmases
Un-American Christmases
(1) In the Netherlands, enforcement against the list of "naughty" kids is carried out by Zwarte Piet ("Black Pete"), the errant former slave of Sinterklaas (but post-racially, ZP is just a booby-prize-delivering chimney sweep who, unlike Sinter, gets all sooted up when he slides down). (2) In Austria, it's the 7-ft-tall horned devil, Krampus, who roams the countryside swinging chains and switches against the bad kids. SpiegelOnline (12-5-2008) /// SpiegelOnline (12-2-2008)
(1) In the Netherlands, enforcement against the list of "naughty" kids is carried out by Zwarte Piet ("Black Pete"), the errant former slave of Sinterklaas (but post-racially, ZP is just a booby-prize-delivering chimney sweep who, unlike Sinter, gets all sooted up when he slides down). (2) In Austria, it's the 7-ft-tall horned devil, Krampus, who roams the countryside swinging chains and switches against the bad kids. SpiegelOnline (12-5-2008) /// SpiegelOnline (12-2-2008)
Comments
Perhaps Krampus is the reason Sadomasochism is on the rise in Austria...
Posted by KW in Dallas, TX on 12/08/08 at 11:09 AM
When we lived in BFE Florida we could here a cougar at night. It sounded like a wounded woman screaming. We always told our daughter it was a kattywampus and if she was bad it would come and "git her."
Posted by AGFH on 12/08/08 at 11:11 AM
And here in Greece St. Basil delivers the goodies (started gaining weight some years ago) and looks a bit like Santa. The Kalikadzaros are the bad guys. Something like an oversized gremlin. Traditionally a boat is decorated instead of a tree but, that too, has been getting a makeover for some time now.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/08/08 at 11:32 AM
Gary: She's surprisingly well adjusted considering the fun we had with her.
Posted by AGFH on 12/08/08 at 12:48 PM
Nah, Nothing Racist about "Black Pete" . There is absolutely nothing wrong in making an entire culture/race/nation scared of another culture/race based on the color of their skin. But I do Call SHENANIGANS!! Didn't John Smith "the Mormon Dude" didn't he come up with this first saying that Black's are the spawn of Satan? Hmmmmm. Alls I can say is Be afraid be very afraid, Thadeus or Sharique or Lakwan are gonna get you if you're bad.
Posted by avmayes614 in the wt"F"-State on 12/08/08 at 03:43 PM
It's a wonder eastern Europeans even have a Christmas given this horror.
Posted by kingmonkey in Athens, Ontario on 12/09/08 at 01:02 PM
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