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Mikulas (St. Nicholas) Day in Prague » 05 December 2013:
Mikulas, St. Nicholas' day, is on the 5th December and marks the start of Christmas for Czech people. For visitors to Prague wishing to experience the spectacle of Mikulas, head for the Old Town Square from late afternoon - Mikulas photos. |
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 | | Mikulas (St. Nicholas) Day Late afternoon on the 5th December three figures move slowly around the Old Town Square: St. Nicholas, an Angel and the Devil. Surrounding them are a throng of small children, gazing in awe at the characters, as their parents look on with masked grins.
Glance around you and there are many such groupings, spread throughout the square, around the Christmas markets stalls. For today is Mikulas. |
| | | Czech children, raised on stories of Mikulas, are over-awed by this spectacle, for they know what to expect. St. Nicholas will be asking each and everyone of them if they have been a good child during the past year.
Most children of course say yes and will be asked to sing a song or recite a short poem, after which they are rewarded with sweets and other treats. But if St. Nicholas suspects they have been naughty, well!
Naughty children don't get sweets, they get a sack of
black coal or hard potatoes. If they have been really naughty, they will be placed in the Devil's sack and sent to
hell!
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| | |  | | With this thought in mind, small children are understandably terrified of the Devil. So when St. Nicholas and his entourage approach them, they sing their song or recite their poem with great gusto. Needless to say, Mikulas acts as a strong incentive to be good throughout the year! At the time of Mikulas, the Prague Christmas markets are in full swing in the Old Town Square. Tourists can browse the market stalls and enjoy the hot food & drink on offer at the wooden huts whilst observing this wonderful
Czech tradition - Prague Christmas markets. |
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Christmas 2013 HIGHLIGHTS | Christmas Markets Old Town Square: 30th Nov-05th Jan: Daily 10h-22h
Wenceslas Square: 30th Nov-12th Jan: Daily 10h-22h. more info | |
Christmas Tree 30th Nov: 17-18h Lighting of the Christmas tree at Old Town Square. | | Mikulas Day 05th Dec: from 16h at Old Town Square. more info | |
Ice Rink 07th Dec-31st Jan: Daily 10h-22h Behind Estates Theatre, Old Town. more info | |
Christmas Eve 24th Dec: 16h - Christmas Mass for children at many churches. 16h30 - Christmas Mass at Tyn Church. 21h - Christmas Mass open-air at Old Town Square. 24h - Midnight Mass at Strahov Monastery and other churches. more info | |
Christmas Planner 24th-26th Dec: What's open and when at Christmas. more info | | New Year's Eve 31st Dec: Celebrations & midnight fireworks. more info |
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