Mikulas

Adri had her first Czech Holiday tradition with Mikulas, the Angel and devil visiting home to check how did she behave during the year...

I got this explanation from the internet to explain better what is it about (and of course it comes from a religious tradition)

The image of Nicholas as the saint who brings gifts to good children and tests them from prayer-books and the Bible in the early evening of his holiday is typical for catholic countries. Today, children and their parents are mostly asked whether the children have been good all year - not being naughty and listening to their parents, etc. - and rewarded with Nicholas' gifts - fruit and a wide variety of other treats - according to the answers.

Nicholas doesn't visit children alone; he's accompanied by a devil with horns and a long, red tongue, whose animal-like appearance is furthered by a shaggy black fur coat and other essential devilish accesories: a tail, a chain and a staff, with which he punishes naughty children. To balance out the devil is an angel, who protects the children from him. The angel appears to children in a white gown with paper wings and a star on his forehead.


As expected she wasn't too happy to see all these strangers at home, specially when one of the devils went directly to her! Go figure! You see a small baby, better send the angel instead of the devil first. I guess she needs to be older to understand what is it about.

On the other hand, Tomas (Martin and Alena's boy) enjoyed every minute and was so surprised to know that Mikulas knew about him and the the toothbrush!!!! Tomas was very nice to them and recite some Czech words to them and got all his cookies and bags with goodies.

It was quick and fun for the kids, and Adri at the end was fine, once she had a bag of goodies and the devils were gone she even waved good bye.

Here are some pictures: