Big day

Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet arrived in Diever today!

First, let me say that David Sedaris speaks the truth. (Reading on YouTube. Text here.)

We knew there was something afoot when a brass band in a wagon rode past our house during lunch. Afterward, when we left to run errands in the village, I noticed a handful of little kids near the grocery store dressed in Zwarte Piet costumes (minus the blackface) and a troupe of girls in dance uniforms running around outside the church.

I did my grocery shopping and stepped outside to see Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet being pulled down the street by horses! Another Zwarte Piet rode in an open car behind, followed by the aforementioned brass band and a couple more Zwarte Piets on rollerblades(!). A handful of mothers and little kids on bicycles brought up the rear. I wish I'd had my camera!

It's a big day in Ann Arbor, too, as everyone gears up for the Michigan-Ohio State game. Man, I wish I could be in town. Actually, I wish I could be anywhere we could watch the game on TV. It'll be 9:30pm here, but we'll do the best we can with audio streaming on the Web. GO BLUE!

Comments

[Amanda]

I had no idea that Santa didn't eat tapas. hee hee.

GO BLUE!

[tcy]

oh, i thought he was saying that santa ate topless.... it makes MUCH more sense now...

:)

[mandy]

I heart David Sedaris. I would say that the Zwarte Piet tradition is bizarre, but most cultural, traditional-type things are. Who am I to judge? A bunny brings me chocolate eggs and marshmallow chicks.