page_title: Companions of Saint Nicholas
section_title: Zwarte Piet (Black Pete)
hierarchical_section_title: Companions of Saint Nicholas / Appearance / Zwarte Piet (Black Pete)
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Sinterklaas en piet
context_page_description: The companions of Saint Nicholas are a group of closely related figures who accompany Saint Nicholas throughout the territories formerly in the Holy Roman Empire or the countries that it influenced culturally. These characters act as a foil to the benevolent Christmas gift-bringer, threatening to thrash or abduct disobedient children. Jacob Grimm associated this character with the pre-Christian house spirit which could be benevolent or malicious, but whose mischievous side was emphasized after Christianization. The association of the Christmas gift-bringer with elves has parallels in English and Scandinavian folklore, and is ultimately and remotely connected to the Christmas elf in modern American folklore.
  Names for the "dark" or threatening companion figure include: Knecht Ruprecht in Germany, Krampus in Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Friuli, Hungary;
  Klaubauf in Bavaria, Austria;
  Bartel in Styria;
  Pelzebock;
  Befana;
  Pelznickel;
  Belzeniggl;
  Belsnickel in the Palatinate;
  Schmutzli in Switzerland;
  Rumpelklas;
  Bellzebub;
  Hans Muff;
  Drapp; and
  Buzebergt in Augsburg.
context_section_description: Zwarte Piet (English: Black Peter or Black Pete, Luxembourgish: Schwaarze Péiter, French: Père-Fouettard, meaning father whipper) is the companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch: Sinterklaas, Luxembourgish: Kleeschen) in the folklore of the Low Countries. The character first appeared in his current form in an 1850 book by Jan Schenkman and is commonly depicted as a blackamoor. Traditionally Zwarte Piet is said to be black because he is a Moor from Spain. Participants portraying Zwarte Piet typically wear blackface make-up, by painting their faces black, wearing exaggerated red lipstick, and a "nappy" or "kinky" wig, as well as colorful Renaissance attire and gold earrings. The character has become a reoccurring subject of controversy, especially in the Netherlands, for its perceived cultural and ethnic insensitivity. Historically, Zwarte Piet is referred to as a servant, not a companion.
  Like Knecht Ruprecht, he was traditionally the one punishing ill-behaved children by beating them with a birch rod or even taking them back to Spain in a sack he carried (which on arrival contained the gifts for the good children). However, in the 20th century these punishments were abolished and Zwarte Piet became a friendly character, although the punishments can still be heard in Sinterklaas songs.
caption: Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet
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