Several Central European countries depicted Black Pete as tall and gaunt, dressed in dark clothes, with a dark beard. Like a visual opposite of St. Nicholas, which becomes even more obvious when the older depictions are compared - that of Black Pete with goat's horns, hooves and tail, and a long red tongue. The Devil, basically. St. Nicholas, the representative of God, was shown having made the Devil his servant and tasked him with dealing with the naughty children.
I guess some folks these days are uncomfortable with a reminder of divine punishment, so they're doing what they can to destroy an ancient tradition. May Black Pete visit each and every one of them.
That is Krampus or one of his associates, not the Dutch Piet. Our family celebrates both traditions, and the devil-like Krampus is 100% separate from Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).
Krampus comes out to punish children with switches in late December, and looks like a cross between Satan and a bear. He’s downright terrifying.
Thanks for clarifying; it has nothing to do with negroes then.
Love the user name; my wife is a Spaniard, and to this day they alone are exempt from the meat abstinence rule because of the role they played at Lepanto.