St. Nicholas visits children across Czechia today

St. Nicholas, accompanied by a devil and an angel, visits children across Czechia on the evening of December 5, bringing fruit, sweets, and small gifts to the well-behaved, while naughty children may receive coal or potatoes. Events include charity collections, themed public transport rides, and children’s programs in cities like Prague, Brno, and Hradec Králové. The Czech tradition, rooted in the Middle Ages, honors St. Nicholas, a protector of faith and patron of many professions. Despite challenges during the communist era, the custom remains popular, resisting the influence of Santa Claus after the Velvet Revolution.