Mikuláš

We were in Prague for Mikuláš this year. St. Nicholas (Mikuláš), the Angel (anděl) who represents the Good, and the Devil (čert) representing the Evil were walking the streets. 

All three characters are supposed to walk the streets, stopping children to ask if they were good in the past year. Most kids say yes and sing a song or recite a short poem and are rewarded with sweet treats handed out by the angel. Bad kids are supposed to be put in the Devil's sack and taken to hell, or would only get a sack of potatoes or coal instead of candy. They are here to scare the kids to behave better.

Sounds a little creepy, eh?! Trust me, it is...but maybe a little like our creepy Halloween traditions.

For some reason, we mostly saw the Devils roaming the streets this year. Uh oh.

Mikulás

In a few countries in Europe (the Czech republic being one), people celebrate the arrival of Mikulas. Mikulas is a version of Saint Nicholas and he comes on December 6th and leaves before Christmas.

 Micelles comes to visit children with 2 assistants: an angel who delivers presents to the good children and a devil who punishes the bad the children. 

I think the idea is to scare your children to be good.

 I was able to witness this celebration twice.

 The first was on a special tram ride for children in Plzen.

Hold on tight because the devil is driving!

The second night, we went to Prague where the costumes get a little more spooky.

Europeans are weird, but I love them.