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Mikulas (St. Nicholas Day) in Prague: 05 December 2025
Mikulas (St. Nicholas Day) is on the 5 December and marks the start of Christmas for Czech people. Head for Old Town Square or Wenceslas Square in the late afternoon to observe the events unfold - Mikulas photos. |
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Mikulas (St. Nicholas Day) - from 16:00
Around 16:00 on the 5 December, three figures slowly move around Old Town Square, in and out of the Christmas Markets. They are St. Nicholas, an Angel and a Devil.Surrounding them are a throng of small children, gazing in awe, but with some apprehension. Their parents meanwhile look on with masked grins. Glance around the square and there are several such groupings, for today is Mikulas. |
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| Czech children raised on stories of Mikulas know just what to expect. St. Nicholas will ask each and everyone of them if they have been a good child in the past year. Naturally, most children say yes, and will be asked to sing a song or recite a short poem, after which they are rewarded with a small present or a sweet. But if St. Nicholas suspects they have been naughty, well! Naughty children don't get sweets, they get
lumps of coal or hard potatoes. And if they have been really naughty, they will find themselves in the Devil's sack and sent to
hell! | |  |
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With this in mind, small children are understandably worried by the presence of the Devil. So when St. Nicholas and his entourage approach, they sing their song or recite their poem with great gusto. Needless to say, Mikulas acts as a pretty strong incentive to be good all year round! Visitors to Prague can watch the events unfold, and maybe even grab a photo with the devil(!), from 16:00 to 19:00 around Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. There is no set route, you just need to look out for them. |
| | | One place they are sure to put in an appearance is on stage at Wenceslas Square, between 16:00 and 18:00. A programme of St. Nicholas themed activities is planned, including competitions and games.
Another is from 17:00 onwards at
Na Kampě Christmas Market in the Lesser Town. This market, which attracts a lot of Czech families on Mikulas, has a whole evening of entertainment and activities lined up, including upbeat music from a live band. The tradition of Mikulas is thought to derive from a 4th-century Christian saint, Nikolaos of Myra, who, it is said, secretly gave gifts to people. On the day of Mikulas, the Christmas Markets are also in full swing, so expect Prague to be busy. Buy a hot drink from one of the stalls, perhaps a sausage or Trdelník, and look on as the events of this wonderful Czech tradition unfold. |
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 CHRISTMAS 2025
KEY DATES | |
| MAIN MARKETS Old Town Square & Wenceslas Square
29 Nov-6 Jan
Daily 10:00-22:00
(24 Dec: 10:00-14:00; 25-26 Dec: 12:00-22:00) | |
| SMALL MARKETS Republic Square
25 Nov-7 Jan
Daily 10:00-20:00
Peace Square
20 Nov-24 Dec
Daily 10:00-20:00
Na Kampě Square
03 Dec-4 Jan
Daily 10:00-20:00 Havel's Market
25 Nov-7 Jan
Mon-Sat 07:00-19:00; Sun 08:00-18:30 |
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| TREE LIGHTING Old Town Square
29 Nov-6 Jan
Daily 16:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30, 20:30, 21:30 |
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| LAMP LIGHTING Charles Bridge
30 Nov-23 Dec
Daily 16:10-16:30 |
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| MIKULAS DAY Old Town Square & Wenceslas Square
05 Dec
16:00-19:00 |
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| XMAS EVE 24 Dec 2025
-16:00 Christmas Mass for children at various churches
-16:30 Christmas Mass at Tyn Church
-21:00 Open-air Christmas Mass at Old Town Square
-24:00 Midnight Mass at Strahov Monastery Basilica & other churches |
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| XMAS PLANNER What's open at Christmas: restaurants, entertainment & sightseeing
24-26 Dec 2025 |
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| NEW YEAR'S EVE Festivities & Fireworks in Prague
31 Dec 2025 |
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| THREE KINGS Charles Bridge
03 Jan 2026
15:30-16:45 |
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| ICE SKATING Wenceslas Square
29 Nov-15 Feb
09:00-21:00
Ovocny trh, Old Town
29 Nov-31 Jan
10:00-21:00
Na Frantisku, Old Town
01 Dec-28 Feb
Mon-Fri 08:00-18:30;
Sat-Sun 08:00-19:30
Tower Park,
Prague 3
01 Dec-28 Feb
Mon-Fri: 15:00-20:00;
Sat-Sun: 09:00-20:00
(22 Dec-04 Jan: 09:00-20:00)
Letná Park, Prague 7
01 Dec-01 Mar
09:00-21:00 Vystavisti, Prague 7
01 Dec-29 Mar
Sat-Sun 15:15-17:15 |
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