Photos: Devils chase children in eerie Czech Christmas custom

A reveller depicting a grim reaper chases a young girl during a traditional St Nicholas procession in the village of Valasska Polanka, Czech Republic. The sinister-looking pre-Christmas tradition in the Czech village of Valasska Polanka is actually a celebration of the 4th-century Saint Nicholas, who appears in costume to soothe the children with sweets.

A reveller dressed as devil is seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin. Chased in the snow by 40 fearsome figures in sheepskin masks, the village youngsters saw it as good fun. "The tradition is beautiful, we enjoy it, we run away from those devils, they chase us, it is awesome," said Vaclav Kozubik a teenager from Valasska Polanka, some 330 km (200 miles)southeast of the capital Prague.

Dozens of people in grim reaper and devil costumes accompany St. Nicholas on his journey through the village of Valasska Polanka in this eastern corner of the Czech Republic.

The whole group parades together from door to door for the weekend. St. Nicholas presents the children with sweets to soothe them after they see the scary costumes.

The devils wear homemade masks of sheepskin and travel with white creatures representing death who carry scythes.

A reveller dressed as devil hangs from a tree in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin. The custom reportedly dates from the pagan era before Christianity, when the masks helped the people of mountainous region defend themselves against the demons of winter.

A reveller dressed as devil is seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin. St. Nicholas was a Christian bishop in the ancient town of Myra who lived in the third and fourth centuries and was known for his goodness and generosity. He is said to have inspired the creation of Santa Claus.

A reveller dressed as devil is seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

A reveller dressed as devil runs in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

A reveller dressed as devil is seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

Revellers dressed as devils walk through the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

A reveller dressed as devil is seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

A reveller dressed as devil is seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

Revellers dressed as devils walk through the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

Revellers dressed as devils are seen in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

A reveller dressed as devil walks through the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic

A reveller dressed as devil runs in the village of Valasska Polanka during a traditional Saint Nicholas parade near the town of Vsetin, Czech Republic