Zwarte Piet (Black Pete)   Many Americans have never seen these unusual Christmas celebrations that occur in some European countries. Many say it was Holland’s Sinterklaas who inspired America’s modern-day Santa. North America’s Santa Claus developed in the 19th and 20th century as a modern perception of Father Christmas, Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas. Most Americans … Continue reading “Black Faced” European folk characters seen annually at Christmas holiday season- Is this actually a history lesson? The black African Moors of Spain and Portugal