Coyans in the Czech Republic

Here we are riding the metro in Prague which is totally efficient and awesome...and then Frank and I posed by a cert (devil) who was being displayed for Christmas...Here's an article Dan wrote about Christmas in CZ:

Christmas (Vanoce) in the Czech Republic has some similarities, such as the giving of gifts and the Christmas tree, but also many differences. Christmas celebrations begin on the evening of December 5th, with the visit of Saint Nicholas (Mikulas). Saint Nicholas climbs down from heaven on a golden rope along with his two companions – an angel and a devil. All three characters walk the streets, stopping children and asking them if they were good in the past year. Most kids say yes and sing a song or recite a short poem. They are then rewarded with sweets, candy, or other treats, which are handed out by the angel. The devil gives coal or potatoes to bad children, and it is said that really bad children are put into his sack and taken away. For the past few weeks, we have seen stores selling Saint Nicholas, angel, and devil candies, cakes, and treats. I must admit it seems a bit strange to see children walking around eating a chocolate devil. One of our neighbors has offered to send Mikulas, the angel, and the devil to our house, to visit Rebekah and Roxie. We’re still not sure if we will do it – but it could be fun.
Unlike in the USA, the Czechs do not decorate their Christmas tree until December 24, and it cannot be illuminated until dark, when the first star can be seen in the sky. Then the family settles down for the traditional Christmas feast, which consists of bread with honey, mushroom or fish soup, potato salad, fried carp, and the traditional vanocka (Czech Christmas bread). The Christmas carp is usually purchased a few days beforehand from a street vendor, who fishes them out of the many carp ponds in the Czech Republic. Often families will keep the carp alive in their bathtub as a temporary pet until Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve in Czech is also associated with many superstitions. For example, a good Czech will fast all day, and if he is lucky he will see a golden piglet appear on the wall at dinner time, which is a sign of good fortune in the year to come. The table can only be set for an even number of guests – if there is an odd number an extra plate will be set – because an odd number will bring bad luck or death.
After dinner, a bell is rung, signifying that the presents have been delivered. However, Santa Claus does not make deliveries to the Czech Republic. Instead, Baby Jesus (Jezisek) sneaks in through a window during dinner to put the gifts under the tree. Unlike Santa Claus, Baby Jesus is a rather abstract figure with no particular physical image attached to him and no one knows where he lives. Just like Santa though, he receives wish-list letters from Czech children a few weeks before Christmas.