Who Is The Black Pit Of Santa Claus' Friend? Has Origin Regarding History And Tradition

YOGYAKARTA - Santa Claus or Santa Claus is an iconic figure who is always present at Christmas. This figure is usually told to bring towing deer and with a friend called the Black Pit. Who is Santa Claus's friend's Black Pit figure?

Pit Hitam is described as a black Santa Claus friend and participates in distributing Christmas gifts to children. However, the Black Pit sometimes also reprimanded naughty children so they were afraid of him.

Behind his figure who became Santa Claus' friend during the Christmas moment, Pit Hitam has origins related to cultural tradition and history. So who exactly is the Black Pit who also gave this Christmas present with Santa Claus?

Pit Hitam is a figure who often appears in the Christmas tradition in the Netherlands. He is believed to have arrived from Spain using a steamboat carrying sacks filled with gifts. When the sack is empty, it is said that the Black Pit will fill it with naughty children to be brought back to Spain.

The character Zwarte Piet was first introduced by Jan Schenkman, a teacher from Amsterdam, through a picture book entitled Sint Nikolaas en zijn Knecht in 1850. Zwarte Piet's name then appeared in print media in 1891 in a children's book entitled Het fee van Sint-Nicolaas or Saint Nicholas Party.

At that time, the Netherlands was still actively involved in the slave trade until it was finally abolished in 1863. Historian Lise Koning linked Zwarte Piet with the tradition of performing black-faced singers that developed in America in the 19th century.

In another interpretation, some people believe that the Black Pit figure comes from a medieval folklore, where Santo Nikolas is often depicted with a dark skin companion who symbolizes a demon or a bad character.

Zwarte Piet became the subject of controversy because he was considered to have elements of racism. He is usually depicted with a black face, curly hair, flashy red lips, and gold earrings.

In some of his performances, the actor who plays Zwarte Piet often wears Suriname accents, a former Dutch colony in South America with a significant black population. Criticism of this representation has emerged since the 1980s.

In 2015, a number of schools in the Netherlands banned Zwarte Piet's depiction with a black face. Then in 2017, the city of Rotterdam also banned Zwarte Piet's costume with a black face in the annual parade. Alternatively, some parties changed this character and called it just Piet without leather frills.

Santa Claus is a figure the children have been waiting for before Christmas Day which falls on December 25. With his distinctive red clothes, a heavy white beard, and a typical Ho-ho-ho' laugh, Santa Claus symbolizes kindness and a spirit of giving. He is described as a gift bearer for children who behave well.

The origins of Santa Claus' story come from a real historical figure, namely Santo Nikolas, a bishop from Myra (now part of Turkey) in the 4th century. Santo Nikolas is known for his generosity, especially to children and people in need.

One of the most famous legends tells how he gives gold to three poor girls so that they can marry and avoid slavery. Santo Nikolas' love and kindness is an inspiration for the character of Santa Claus.

When Christian traditions spread to Europe, stories about Santo Nikolas began to mix with elements of local culture. In the Netherlands, he is known as Sinterklaas which is a direct inspiration for the name Santa Claus in the English language world.

Modern representations of Santa Claus in red clothes, white beards, and deer-drawn trains were formed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many illustrations made by artists such as Thomas Nast helped strengthen this image. Then, the Coca-Cola company introduced Santa Claus' version of their ad campaign in the 1930s.

That's a review of who Santa Claus's Black Pit was who shared gifts with the children. Santa Claus and his friends serve as reminders that Christmas is the time to share happiness, kindness, and reflection about the values we share. Read also know the most unique Christmas celebration traditions in various countries.

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