Santa Claus 1887 in Batavia's 'Harmony' Club...
My great-grandfather spent the month of December 1887 in (then) Batavia/(now) Jakarta, capital of the Dutch Indies. At least, it looks like that from this curious program leaflet, found in the papers he left. A party for Saint Nicholas, the age old children's feast on December 5th when the old bisshop is supposed to bring the (well behaved) children presents, while the badly behaved ones have to fear the switch or can even be taken away with him to his home in Spain...
The party was held in the elite club 'de Harmonie' where only white colonials were welcome. (the leaflet even says at the bottom that 'indigenous servants are not allowed'...). The program consists of dancing, children's games, Saint Nicholas's entry and ends with a ball. The music is provided by the military band, playing the 'Batallion's music')...
Truely a historical curiosity. Times have changed...
Santa Claus 1887 in Batavia's 'Harmony' Club...
My great-grandfather spent the month of December 1887 in (then) Batavia/(now) Jakarta, capital of the Dutch Indies. At least, it looks like that from this curious program leaflet, found in the papers he left. A party for Saint Nicholas, the age old children's feast on December 5th when the old bisshop is supposed to bring the (well behaved) children presents, while the badly behaved ones have to fear the switch or can even be taken away with him to his home in Spain...
The party was held in the elite club 'de Harmonie' where only white colonials were welcome. (the leaflet even says at the bottom that 'indigenous servants are not allowed'...). The program consists of dancing, children's games, Saint Nicholas's entry and ends with a ball. The music is provided by the military band, playing the 'Batallion's music')...
Truely a historical curiosity. Times have changed...