The Feast of St. Nicholas is marked in different ways in different countries.

In Czechia, for example, Nicholas — known here as Mikulas — goes door to door accompanied by an angel and a devil.

In Valasska Polanka, in the country's southeast, around 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Prague, the whole village keeps the tradition alive. Here, a group of masked devils roam the streets, jangling their bells as they go in search of children who have not behaved over the previous year.

Mikulas, dressed in bishop's robes, on the other hand, rewards well-behaved youngsters with small gifts and treats.

Children spend days preparing for the visit, learning short poems or songs to perform for Mikulas. Some rush to the door in excitement when the group appears, while others freeze or burst into tears at the sight of the masked volunteers and the sound of their rattling bells.

Rooted in an ancient pagan custom, the tradition dates back to a time when villagers in Czechia's mountain regions wore carved devil masks to guard themselves against the dark spirits of winter.