On the evening of December 5th, Mikuláš, the Czech version of St. Nicholas, visits, accompanied by and angel and a devil, to ask who has been good and who has not. That night, all good Czech children (or descendants) leave their shoes out and hope for the best. If they've been good, they are rewarded the next morning with treats and trinkets from Mikuláš. If they have been bad, they get a lump of coal or a rotten potato. If they have been really bad, they get put in the devil's sack and sent to hell!
When my Grandpa Mirek (Miles' namesake) was five or six, he got a sock full of coal. He was so upset that he took the coal-filled sock and swung it around the room, leaving black marks all over the walls. Fortunately, he didn't get put in the devil's sack, and I think "Mikuláš" probably decided against the lump of coal in the future because of all the cleanup.
Mikuláš continues to visit us via my mom. Here are a few shots of Miles' discovering the rewards for being good this past year. Thanks, Babi Bronia!
5 comments:
Love unique traditions. These pictures are darling.
Love that boy! I just want to eat him up--and I'll take the chocolate too.
So cute. Ours came on the 8th... my fault.
What a fun tradition! Is that Kinder-chocolate or some fancy Czech type? It was so good to see you over the holidays! Happy paradise-ing!
Just noticed you're reading "Your Money or Your Life." That's a GREAT book. I've read and re-read it. It's fun catching up on your blog.
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