In early December, Christians in many countries celebrate the Feast of St Nicholas — known in Czechia as "Mikulas." DW visited a village in the southeast of the country to watch this centuries-old tradition in action.

Valašská Polanka

In the village of Valašská Polanka, southeastern Czechia, volunteers uphold the tradition of Mikuláš, or the Feast of St. Nicholas, by dressing as St. Nicholas, angels, and devils. The event involves visiting families, where children sing or recite poems to receive treats, and playful chases through the village streets.

The tradition, which marks the start of the Christmas season, is seen as an important part of local culture and identity. Participants emphasize that the ritual is meant to bring joy and foster community, with memories of the event lasting into adulthood and being passed on to future generations.

Mikulas: How a Czech village keeps centuries-old tradition alive

As the sun rises on this December morning, a group of young volunteers in the village of Valeska Polanka in southeastern Czechia gathers to prepare for a centuries-old tradition they honour every year, the Feast of St. Nicholas or Mikuláš. Depending on their allocated role, they dress as St. Nicholas, an angel or a devil, collect their props and get into character, ready to bring joy, or indeed fear, to the people of the village. 24-year-old Patrik Pilčík is playing the part of a devil. He's been part of the tradition since he was 17 years old. I think it's so important because this tradition is more than 100 years old, so we need to keep them running. It's the beginning of the Christmas time, so people will start recognising that Christmas is close. There are a lot of Christians and it's part of the Catholic. When there's fun through the day and all the stuff, people are motivated to go and they are happy that they can be part of it because you just take a free day in the work and you have a Saturday and Sunday and you forget about the things you have in your life and just enjoy it. It's easy to spot Mikuláš, as St. Nicholas is called in Czechia. He's the one with a long white beard, dressed as a bishop and carrying a bishop's staff. He comes bearing gifts for those who have been well behaved. He is traditionally accompanied by a devil and an angel, or in the case of Válaska Polanka, a whole group of angels and devils. The devils traditionally wear black, are often covered in fur and usually have red or black horns. Their role is to act as a warning to the children who have misbehaved, sometimes with threats of taking them away in a sack. The group goes from house to house in the village, visiting families with children. The children often sing a song or recite a poem before receiving their treats. It's a big tradition for our family, so every year we are waiting for that and it's a very nice tradition for us. When I was a child, I was scared every time, so now it's better. The group then jogs through the streets of the village, where some older children are waiting. At this point, things get more boisterous and more playful. The children run through the streets with the devils chasing after them. My children have to be like very good children during the whole year, because if not, then the Mikuláš with the devil will take them to hell. What I remember, the masks are always the same, the old masks still go on in this tradition, so it's the same. It is very important for our culture because, you know, when we will forget the tradition, it won't be us anymore. Patrick Pilčík says that while many people believe this tradition can be frightening for the children, others argue that confronting fear in a controlled setting is a healthy part of childhood development. He says that children often carry these memories with them into adulthood. It's not about scaring children, we're doing this for the children. I don't remember any situation when someone was trying to scare some children, you can see it on their face. For Patrick Pilčík, this ritual is more than just costumes, props and a performance. It's a tradition he himself grew up with, and one he is now helping to pass on to the next generation. As the devil in disguise, he's a guardian of a tradition that continues to shape childhood memories in the village of Valeska Polanka. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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