Czech Advent Tradition that SHOCKS Foreigners

What seems to Czechs like an innocent advent tradition is sometimes a shocking surprise to Prague travelers. When they see Czech parents bringing their children to monsters that sometimes scare away even the adults, a lot of questions arise. We are here to answer them :)
St. Nicholas is a prototype of Santa Claus, and on the 5th of December, he comes to visit Czech kids to bring them small gifts. There is a twist to this story though...St. Nicholas has always got company.
Every Czech kid knows that a grandpa in white and red clothing will bring a scary friend with him, and this friend is the devil himself! Woah, this escalated quickly! St. Nicholas will be evaluating the child's behavior in the past year, and if the child was bad, the devil will take him away. Have no fear, there is someone who will save Czech children from being kidnapped to hell
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[@RealPragueGuides]

How do you traumatize children in your country? Let us know in the comments ⬇️

[@madaandriescu726]

In my country, Romania, St. Nicholas brings candy/fruits to the nice children and coal or something for the parents to discipline their kids (like a twig) if the kid was naughty. All these will come inside de kids shoes when they woke up in the morning and only if the shoes are clean :)

[@damienoneill4355]

Tell them they won't get any Pressies unless they eat their Brussel Sprouts. If they do lock you away Valery...I'll help you start a tunnel 😁

[@ycplum7062]

This video needs a legal disclaimer. "No child was traumatized by Real Prague Guides in the making of this video."

[@elizabethmayrose8521]

My mother was Czech and believe me, I know all about the psychological trauma my Czech side of the family could inflict! I guess they figured we’d behave if we knew what could happen!

[@kaylibert4020]

This is hands down the best visit a city video on the internet. Brava!

[@adammasek772]

Thanks Valery and everyone...I needed a smile today and you came along to provide it!

[@paultodd7806]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 absolutely brilliant, never stop your traditions it’s what makes you. Loved the outtakes at the end👍

[@mal6749]

I enjoy watching your videos 🤩

[@jamesmihalcik1310]

I very much look forward to Real Prague Guides videos with Valery, her facial expressions are priceless! This was great, that's why Santa has that great big jolly smile. You guys are fantastic :)

[@johnvelas70]

Now I KNOW I'm gonna live forever. My singing is so bad, not only I won't get the invite to heaven, but I'll get kicked out of hell.

[@chrishutchison5031]

This is also why Prague is one of the birthplaces of Psychotherapy. Emotional scars for the Czechs, but the rest of the world gets to enjoy the great sense of humor that results from a Czech upbringing. ???? that can't be right or else the Germans would be hilarious. ////I'll probably get flamed for that comment. THANKS FOR THE GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!

[@MrToradragon]

Maybe the Germans have too little emotional scars? You know just like in case of physical pain, to certain point it hurts and you just scream and then you just start laughing.

[@firstuser5448]

This is one of the best things I've seen all week lol.

[@redstone51]

Your special effects makes STAR WARS look like childs play👌. Valery, no beard please🤣.I can't unsee that. How do you traumatize children in USA? TURN OFF INTERNET 😱!!! Prague is incredibly beautiful lit up at night💝!!! GREAT VIDEO, MORE PLEASE🙏

[@ray7419]

Awesome Christmas tradition!!! I actually have a couple of coffee mugs, one with Krampus, and one with Perchta. 😈👍

[@donpratt1732]

I was there last week and there sure were a lot of ambulance sirens. Advice in a previous video about dressing for Prague winter sure came in handy.

[@sujaytomar]

In india, parents don't wait for special days to traumatize their children, they use slippers which is a good weapon from short as well as long distances. You cry and you are beaten for crying, and if you don't then you are labeled thick skinned and beaten again. All in good fun.

[@robertwhitacre6354]

Love your expressions and Love your Eastern block Accent.

[@Pidalin]

Since I live in village, I almost forgot about this tradition, I haven't seen devil, angel and st. Nicholas many years and it's normal working day.

[@DextraKiedis]

Oh I wish it was a trio... Usually it was more like one Saint Nicholas, one angel and five or more devils.😅

[@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235]

We share the same Central European childhood traumata, but back in the day they used to come with snow. [Which we got today]

[@holeco]

In my village (east of Czech Republic) this is very different. We don´t have Angel here, so the only good figure is St. Nicolas, and he is walking cross the village with several bad figures ( devils, "water goblins", and death- really :-)) So the kinds better have to be really good :-) My dad told me, that back in his time, 30 and more years ago, you really had a reason to be scared of them :-) In the masks were often football players with good condition, and they could beat you (with wooden stick or with a whip, so it really hurts). So if they choose some kid, you better run boy- girls were not beaten :) My dad told me that he once as a kid had to run more than a kilometer, because the devil was still behind him. Hope you undertand my English :-) I don´t use it very often :-) but I thought that maybe it will be interesting for you (and I´m not kidding, this was real, and still is- in much more gentle way- today :)

[@RealPragueGuides]

Thanks for sharing! It sounds like these guys (football players) were having more fun than the children 😅

[@holeco]

@@RealPragueGuides well sometimes they have different fun :D because people are offering them slivovice in every house, so if they are not careful, they sometimes can´t even walk later in the day :D

[@Ah0jtadyHanka]

@@RealPragueGuides yeah, and few years ago I went with the trio as photographer in a small village in Moravia,and the parents on 99% gave us shot of slivovice, rum or something, so the devils are later even more in to it xD Some kids were crying, some were awesome, some oldest were just happy and after all we ended up in a pub :D

[@helendowney4950]

This is hilarious 😂. We just have the 'if you are naughty Santa will bring you coal' bit!!!!

[@PatrickBijvoet]

Looks very much like Sinterklaas in The Netherlands. 5th December, St Nicolas of Sinterklaas (of Sint Nicolaas), the Helper (however it is not a scary devil with us), the Sac, but if the child was naughty you where taken to Spain by the Helper and Sinterklaas to the palace of Sinterklaas who lives there. Etc.

[@sandor7594]

Yes! St. Nicholas Day is similar in Central Europe and Budapest. This is the cultural heritage of the Habsburg Empire. No traumatized are the Children

[@markrandle9905]

Awesome as always

[@evanchan2270]

Congratulations to Prague for making the top 10 in the 2021 Christmas Markets ranking

[@nickbremner6274]

We traumatise our kids by telling them to avoid strange adults that offer them gifts AND THEN once a year, a fat, jolly and strangely dressed old man is going to come down the chimney into their bedroom while they are asleep and give them gifts IF THEY'VE BEEN GOOD! My children grew up in a centrally heated house that didn't have fireplaces and guessed that Santa was not real and therefore were not worried. My 7 year old grandson has lived in a house that has fireplaces almost all his life and was terrified that someone he didn't know would come into his bedroom when he was asleep!

[@chrishutchison5031]

You should probably call the cops on anyone who sees you when you're sleeping, and knows when you're awake.

[@julesdowner5585]

i am 60 so i am completely out of touch with kids so it seems i traumatize them by just talking to them!

[@libork8106]

Great video, I do remember that one year I got the rocks and wooden chips while my sister had nice box with chocolates and goodies and refused to share. I cried and hated everyone. See still remember and will never forget. However to my kids, I have always give something. What do you think, did I do something wrong, now my kids are over 20 and 30, and still expect St. Nicholas presents ????

[@luannesimon2337]

I'm full blooded Czech American...We lived on a farm in rural Minnesota and the neighbor boys would dress up as Mikolas...talk about terror...I was scared to death

[@johnh7718]

This was the year that Stranger Danger made my 2-year-old grandson yell when plopped on Santa's lap. So, just a beard is enough.

[@vaclavsubrt5474]

I remembered in 80s' you could encounter these bunches (St.Nicholas, Angel and Devil) behind every corner. This evening (5th December) used to have incredible and surreal atmosphere. They were walking from household to household and were contacted by parents of little children right in the streets. My father always tried to choose the most scariest devil. Once even one came to us with an artificial arm sticking out of his sack (I hope it was artificial :D). Great catch, daddy! So you can understand I didn't much enjoy St.Nicholas visits in our flat. But I liked very much them walking round the streets. Nowadays unfortunately St.Nicholas' groups are much less to be seen in the streets and if , their costumes are much careless than before. I guess that's because under communist regime people had more time for preparations and this occassion was aslo one of the very scarce opportunities to legally earn some money on their own.

[@chanterelle483]

Maybe also because there were less opportunities to have fun and lesser concern about traumatizing the children? Regarding the hand, I remember from when I was a small kid that devils would let stuffed stockings hang out of their bags, as the legs of children that are going to hell 😋 my parents only invited St. Nicholas and his party to our house once, but they came to our school so I got scared enough anyway 😅

[@2011littlejohn1]

The devils you showed looked pretty tame compared to the one that appeared at a party I played at - he was real Hammer House of Horror stuff. :)

[@FlamingBasketballClub]

Now this is a real Prague travel guide

[@joytekb]

Briliant,briliant.

[@awhatsname]

Interesting! So does krampus arrive seperately from St. Nick, the angel, and the devil? Or is krampus not a thing in Czechia?

[@sujaytomar]

When bloopers are funnier than actual video

[@TorGilje]

You are so funny. :)

[@BJKage]

I am from the west of the country, Angels are very new thing and only kids of age like 3 and under are really scared and foreigners.

[@kulethepunkguy104]

Similar thing in Croatia/Balkan area... except, we don't have angel & devil, only Crampus, who scares children... Kids get presents, no coal or potato... 😁

[@zerothm1]

I gotta move there. Awesome country....

[@furnacefighter]

Yikes, thank God Christmas only comes once a year!

[@conceptalfa]

👍 👍 👍!!!

[@fmgraca]

Nowadays I don't know if it will be a good idea to leave children alone with sooo many Stranger (Priest or not)🤞🤞🤞 By the way, nice hat 🥳🥳🥳

[@vitaliik5596]

u made my day :D cant stop laughing

[@syedabdulmoiz4018]

A weird question do you guys have cats in Czech Republic. I have never seen a cat wondering around in your videos. Btw love your videos dekuji

[@schink01]

We have cats but more like a house pets. Not many stray cats wandering the streets. The same with dogs

[@MrToradragon]

Yes, but are not so popular as dogs are. Another thing is that stray cats can be legally shot on the spot by hunters (they are considered as huge danger to wildlife which they are), technically so can be stray dogs, but it is far more common just to call town police which will take them to the shelter. Most of those dogs are in fact just lost and thus easy to handle. Another reason for lack of wild cats is that Czechia is very industrialized and densely populated country with high road traffic and plenty of, not just cats, will not make it over the roads, will be burned by electricity on transformers or die in other unfortunate events. As well quite good trash collection service doesn't give much opportunities for cats, rats and dogs to find easy sources of food, so they are basically left with what they can find/hunt themselves. Sure you will find some stray cats here and there, mostly in small towns or villages on on outskirts, but it is not common.

[@letecmig]

@@MrToradragon " Another thing is that stray cats can be legally shot on the spot by hunters " man, are you on drugs??? You end up in jail for killing a homeless/stray cat in CZ ...actually for much less that constitutes abuse of animals (regardless whether they have or do not have home)

[@letecmig]

It depends on where you are. In cities the cats are kept in houses/apartments and typically not let outside. There are no stray/homeless cats in the cities(in rare occasion such a cat is found, there are taken to govt and charity funded 'homeless shelters for animals' until they found new home for them). You can see cats wandering around in the villages (owners let them out as there is less risk for cats).

[@schink01]

@@letecmig he is right. Stray cats can be shot, if they are more than 200 m from inhabited territory

[@joechang8696]

what shock? seems like a really good technique

[@Viic86]

5:35 looks more like Chewbacca than čert 🤣

[@guyh9992]

We just warn them about brown snakes, funnel web spiders and to always swim between the flags.

[@MichaelaSelicka]

Oh sweet childhood memories 😊

[@Туризмподлупой]

Pekne 😀😊😊

[@silasbishop3055]

I absolutely love this.

[@Timetraveler101]

😆😆😆😆😆oh boy! 🤘👍👍

[@natcat555]

In Germany we know this guy too. I'm afraid he's our invention. Sorry for those strange guys 😬

[@stroke_of_luck]

I got coal

[@rogerflorida1498]

0:05 are we supposed to be able to read this? or is this a subliminal message? because if you blink you missed it.

[@RealPragueGuides]

It's like if you want pause it and read it 😅

[@jirim727]

Giving kids candy dressed in outdated cosplay is weird.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Poor kids! I don't think we need any more trauma in 2021! 🥵

[@tompernik]

Greetings from 2022

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

@@tompernik 😢

[@albertalbertov1012]

Haahahahah 😂

[@typse497]

But the czechians are agnostic so why do they celebrate Christmas???

[@vermull19]

Becouse our all ancestors celebrated it? Im not talking only about christian ancestors, but also about celtic Alban Arthuan which was celebrated by our Celtic tribe of Boii (a part of our country is named after them for example in Latin and of course in English - Bohemia), Yule by Germanic tribes of Markomans and Quadi, and Kračun or Koleda by Slavic tribes, now we call them Vánoce derived from german der Weihnacht which means Holy night. Different names same celebrations. Is it really that important believe in the new born sun gods (celtic Belen and slavic Dažbog (his name means the god of gifts)) or other god like germanic Odin like father Jule (about this Im not sure) or in the God and his new born son Jezus Christ? For me its about love and family, gratitude that we all met again around one table and hope that next year will be better than this and bring something new into our lives. And its nice holiday full of tradicions, christmas songs, cookies and dishes and gifts. Sorry for long comment and my mistakes in it.

[@typse497]

@@vermull19 are u scolding me or explaining me? .....I was just curious to know about your country.....if my question hurts you then I am really really sorry

[@vermull19]

@@typse497 No, im sorry. I didnt want sound upset or engry. I really wanted explain you my point of view. Nothing more, nothing less. So I wish you Marry and Happy (Šťastné a Veselé) how we Czechs say ;).

[@typse497]

@@vermull19 oh!!! don't be sorry it's just a misunderstanding I am from India and we say marry Christmas and happy New year to u and your family may God bless u with all the prosperity and happiness😊

[@MrToradragon]

It is, as Veronika had mentioned, old tradition that is kept and from religious holiday it transformed to family event when at 24th Dec you have diner with your close family and possibly invite grandparents, if they live close, or you go to their place for diner, then you have those presents under the tree which in theory no one knows who gave them (but you can easily guess). And 25th and 26th are reserved for visits of distant family and friends. And people often take vacations for week after Christmas and this period of winter celebrations and visits lasts until new year.