Current:Home > NewsIn some Czech villages, St Nicholas leads a parade with the devil and grim reaper in tow-LoTradeCoin
In some Czech villages, St Nicholas leads a parade with the devil and grim reaper in tow
View Date:2024-12-23 11:28:48
LIDECKO, Czech Republic (AP) — In an eastern corner of the Czech Republic, St. Nicholas leads a procession of followers dressed in grim reaper and devil costumes on a journey through the village of Lidecko.
The old pre-Christmas tradition has survived for centuries in just a few villages in the region known as Wallachia.
Several groups parade together, going door to door for three days. St. Nicholas presents the children with sweets to soothe them after they see the scary costumes. The devils wear homemade masks made of sheepskin and travel with white, scythe-carrying creatures that represent death.
The custom reportedly dates from the pagan era before Christianity, when the masks helped the mountainous region’s inhabitants defend themselves against the demons of winter.
St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop in the ancient town of Myra who lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries and was known for his goodness and generosity. He is said to have inspired the creation of Santa Claus.
veryGood! (9923)
Related
- Lions find way to win, Bears in tough spot: Best (and worst) from NFL Week 10
- Packers suspend CB Jaire Alexander for 'detrimental' conduct after coin toss near-mistake
- Online retailer Zulily says it will go into liquidation, 'wind-down' the business
- Fantasy football rankings for Week 17: Healthy QBs hold keys to championship quest
- Oprah Winfrey Addresses Claim She Was Paid $1 Million by Kamala Harris' Campaign
- Was 2023 a tipping point for movies? ‘Barbie’ success and Marvel struggles may signal a shift
- You Need to Calm Down. Taylor Swift is not the problem here.
- Human remains, artificial hip recovered after YouTuber helps find missing man's car in Missouri pond
- South Carolina does not set a date for the next execution after requests for a holiday pause
- US announces new weapons package for Ukraine, as funds dwindle and Congress is stalled on aid bill
Ranking
- Judge set to rule on whether to scrap Trump’s conviction in hush money case
- Packers suspend CB Jaire Alexander for 'detrimental' conduct after coin toss near-mistake
- Who are the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft? Ranking college QBs before New Year's Six
- Lost dog group rescues senior dog in rural town, discovers she went missing 7 years ago
- AP Top 25: Oregon remains No. 1 as Big Ten grabs 4 of top 5 spots; Georgia, Miami out of top 10
- Gypsy Rose Blanchard's release from prison latest twist in shocking Munchausen by Proxy case
- Nikki Haley, asked what caused the Civil War, leaves out slavery. It’s not the first time
- Horoscopes Today, December 27, 2023
Recommendation
-
Pistons' Tim Hardaway Jr. leaves in wheelchair after banging head on court
-
New Toyota, Subaru and more debut at the 2023 L.A. Auto Show
-
Mariah Carey's boyfriend Bryan Tanaka confirms 'amicable separation' from singer
-
Antonio Pierce makes pitch to be Raiders' full-time coach: 'My resume is on the grass'
-
'Cowboy Carter' collaborators to be first country artists to perform at Rolling Loud
-
Tom Smothers, half of the provocative Smothers Brothers comedy duo, dies at 86
-
AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods after Ukraine dam collapse, far more than Russia said
-
YouTuber helps find man missing since 2013, locates human remains in Missouri pond: Police