The dark pre-Christian tradition that survived centuries

Among snowy forests, a shadowy figure accompanied by the devil moves from house to house at this time of year, in remote areas of Europe. It's not a horror movie script. It's part of the Christmas festivities in a handful of small Czech towns, where Saint Nicholas, Santa's "ancestor," marches in terrifying costumes in keeping with an ancient pre-Christian custom that has survived the centuries. But who is Saint Nicholas? And why does he march with the devil and the grim reaper among the children in the cold forests of Europe? We'll see. Saint Nicholas and his group of disturbing figures advance through the snowy forests of Czech Wallachia.



AP Saint Nicholas, who according to traditions he was Philippines WhatsApp Number List a Turkish bishop who lived between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD and who arrived from Turkey or, perhaps, a Spanish bishop who sailed to the Netherlands , He is the ancestor of Santa Claus. . Let's say, his inspiration. His figure occupied the European Christmas of past centuries. shared with Santa Claus himself, originally from Scandinavia, with the Italian Befana , a witch who travels on a broom and brings gifts, and with the Three Wise Men, with more roots in Spain or Portugal. Figures with horror masks advance in procession according to an ancient pre-Christian custom.







APFigures with horror masks advance in procession according to an ancient pre-Christian custom. Photo: AP In a remote central European region, in Czech Wallachia, bordering Slovakia, pre-Christian traditions are still preserved in which people are now made to participate in Saint Nicholas parading with the devil and the grim reaper. The parade lasts three days and different groups participate. They go house to house knocking on the door. The Sin Nicolás offers sweets to the children and their companions, figures preserved from pre-Christian times, disguised as creatures that represent death. A cable from the AP agency says that the masks they use would serve as amulets to scare away the mountain demons that stalked them in winter.