On the afternoon of December 5th, the normally stoic Praguers seemed more animated as they walked the streets and rode the public transit. Rush hour came early, and the grocery stores were crowded. Something was afoot. It was the eve of "Mikuláš", or St. Nicholas Day.
See this link that describes the holiday in the Czech Republic.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/czech-republic/
A Czech friend took me around the city that afternoon. We stopped at Christmas markets and other gathering places. At a small shopping center, we encountered Mikuláš, an angel, and a devil. I sang Jingle Bells to them and got a piece of candy, a coloring book, and crayons from Mikuláš. I suppose if I had sung "Good King Wenceslas", I may have gotten more. Oh well, next time. See the photo below.
See this link that describes the holiday in the Czech Republic.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/czech-republic/
A Czech friend took me around the city that afternoon. We stopped at Christmas markets and other gathering places. At a small shopping center, we encountered Mikuláš, an angel, and a devil. I sang Jingle Bells to them and got a piece of candy, a coloring book, and crayons from Mikuláš. I suppose if I had sung "Good King Wenceslas", I may have gotten more. Oh well, next time. See the photo below.
