Czech Republic

捷克共和國

The Czech version of Saint Nick is known as Svaty Mikulas, who is said to climb down to Earth from the heavens using a golden rope. Mikulas is accompanied by an angel and a devil who help him decide which girls and boys deserve treats and toys, and which ones deserve a swatch.

捷克人稱圣誕老人為“米庫拉斯”（Svaty Mikulas）。據說他用一根金繩從天堂爬到了大地。陪在他身邊的是一位天使和一位惡魔。他們倆決定哪些男孩女孩值得得到美食和玩具而哪些孩子該被鞭打一頓。

There are a lot of fortune-telling traditions that are associated with Christmas as well. One involves a family member cutting a branch from a cherry tree and putting it inside in water. If it blooms in time for Christmas it is good luck. It also may represent that the winter will be short, or if a single woman picked the branch, it could mean she will get married in the next year.

圣誕節也有一些算命的習俗。其中有一個是家庭成員從櫻桃樹上砍下一根樹枝并把它放入水中。如果它在圣誕節開了花，就表示好運。它也代表冬季會很短。倘若一位單身女子撿到了這根樹枝，這表示她在明年將會結婚。

On Christmas Eve, single woman also try to see if they will get married in the next year by standing outside with their back to their front door, removing one of their shoes and throwing it over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the toe facing the door, then she will marry in the next year. If not, she will have to wait at least another 12 months.

在平安夜，單身女子還會通過“扔鞋子”來測試自己明年是否會結婚。她們在屋外背對前門站著，脫下一只鞋，把它從肩上向后扔。如果鞋子落地時鞋頭朝門，這就表示她們明年將會結婚。如果鞋子鞋尾朝門，她們就得再等個一年了。