Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City 
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Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City
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St. Mikulaš Celebration Sunday, December 9th
On Sunday, December 9, 2007, at 2:00 pm the Czech and Slovak Club of Greater Kansas City gets into the spirit of the holiday season with the annual St. Mikulaš Party. All interested in Czech and Slovak culture, customs, and history are welcome, especially children. The event will be held at the Southminster Presbyterian Church, 6306 Roe Ave., Prairie Village, KS 66208(913-432-3505).
The cost of the St. Mikulaš Party is free, we just ask that all interested in attending bring a potluck item as listed below. We also ask that all parents bring a gift(maximum value $10) with your child’s name on it for St. Mikulaš to give to your child. Finally, in order for the club to prepare a traditional holiday present for each child in attendance, please contact Jirina LaVine(816-753-2540 or jirinal@yahoo.com) so she will know how many presents will be needed. The club will provide soft drinks, set-ups and some musical entertainment.
Potluck Meal
A – J - main course
K - R - salad, potato, or other side dish
S – Z - appetizer or dessert
St. Mikulaš Tradition
In the Czech and Slovak Republics, the excitement of St. Mikulaš Day begins early. Children practice their poems or songs in anticipation of this occasion. They tend to act extra nice to their siblings or help out their parents more in hopes that they may make up for all the times they have been naughty.
As tradition goes, on December 5th, the eve of St. Milulaš Day, cherub children’s faces, wide-eyed in anticipation, glance out their window waiting. Then they hear the knock and squeal with excitement. St. Milulaš takes out his book about the children reciting what they have done good or bad, as the children anxiously peer from angel to devil.
St. Mikulaš asks the children to sing a song or recite a poem that they have been practicing for this event. By doing so, St. Mikulaš rewards them with sweets, candy, or other treats that are handed out by the angel. Meanwhile, the devil may try to frighten the children, especially if they have not been good this year, and then threaten to take them in his sack to hell. Some children stand scared or cry(while others laugh at the devil‘s antics), but the angel always rescues the children from the grasp of the devil. If the children were good, they would receive a stocking full of fruits, nuts, sweets, and other goodies. If the children were bad, they would receive coal or potatoes in their stocking usually along with a couple of goodies.