[dr_lew]

Incidentally blackface is used in the Netherlands in a popular version of the St. Nicholas Christmas sub-story, in a “jolly” spin on the tale that has nothing to do with black slavery.

This tradition is in big trouble. Look up ZWARTE PIET

[HiTech RedNeck]

Black Pete and his sidekicks. Kind of analogous to the Santa Claus elves, but they come along with him to help out in some versions of the tale.

Anyhow it was all considered good fun, a traditional morality story (incidentally, Black Pete isn’t evil) until recent immigrants were both offended and puzzled.