Czech Christmas 2008

The feast of St. Nicholas (or sv. Mikuláše) is enthusiastically celebrated in the Czech Republic. On the eve of the feast day, December 5th, St. Nicholas comes to visit children with a devil who is given the authority to scare them. Children should recite a poem or sing a song before they are asked by St. Nicholas whether they have been naughty or nice. Finally, St. Nicholas gives children a small gift, usually sweets and fruit, if they promise to be good. Disobedient children on the other hand, receive either a potato or a piece of coal... Children need not worry if they didn't see St. Nicholas: All they have to do is hang a stocking in the window and then after dark, St. Nicholas will come and fill it with presents.