Call me Zwarte Piet

This year, I decided to play Zwarte Piet in every sense of the word. I sewed a set of five coasters for Carolien and her family. You are supposed to wrap it up to make it a surprise. So I merged two cultures and it went secretly on its way to their house. Guess the mailman thought their house was the North Pole. *grins*


Now, a surprise on Pakjesavond always comes with a rhyme and this was a challenge for me. The poem connects what the gift is and her home. She lives in a pretty house connected to the church which is where I secretly put them in the mailbox. Here is my poem which I will translate. Keep in mind this does rhyme in Dutch although not in English...


De Sint had een mooie naaimachine,
Maar wist niet hoe je hem moest bedienen.

(The Sint had a beautiful sewing machine,
But did not know how to use it.)

De Pieten zaten aan de thee,
En hadden in eens een brilliant idee.

(The Piets were having tea,
And had, all of a sudden, a brilliant idea.)

Bij een mok thee hoort er iets onder,
Want een vlek op tafel is echt zonde.

(There should be something under a mug of tea,
As a stain on your table is really a shame.)

Ze pakten de stofjes en gingen aan het werk,
Het kado moet nu af en snel naar de kerk.

(They grabbed fabrics and went to work,
The gift had to be finished and rushed off to the church.)

Dus de pieten werkten zich te pletter,
Op deze mooie ……….

(So the Piets worked themselves to the bone,
To make these pretty ..... )

Van de handwerk Pieten!

(From the Handwork Piets!)


Carolien says she has them around her living room now to use when they drink their tea. I had so much fun playing Piet for her!