Angel of Christmas (postcard)

"Christmas Angel" is a detail from the colored pencil drawing "December 5th in Prague: St. Nicholas, Angel and Devil" (2016). It was created live in public by Marie Brožová at her famous Magic Pencil Gallery in the heart of Prague as part of her long-term project The Defense of Colored Pencils. The original artwork is an impressive A0 format, measuring 118.9 × 84.1 cm (46.8 × 33.1 inches). 

The Story Behind the Art

Step into the magical atmosphere of a timeless European tradition celebrated on the eve of St. Nicholas Day (December 5th). On this enchanting night, the streets of Prague – along with towns and villages across the Czech Republic – come alive with a traditional trio of figures: St. Nicholas, representing kindness and generosity; the Angel, embodying purity and protection; and the mischievous Devil, symbolizing playful punishment. Together, they visit local homes to reward good children with sweet treats and gently scare naughty ones with a lump of coal or a potato. They even stop children on the street to ask if they have been good throughout the year. While folklore playfully warns that naughty kids might be carried off to hell in the Devil's sack, children can always save themselves by reciting a poem or singing a song – instantly earning a handful of sweets from the Angel’s basket instead.

Hidden Details to Discover

Growing up in Prague, Marie Brožová often visited the magical St. Nicholas parade in the Old Town Square. To a child, it was a world of thrilling mystery. While some figures were clearly just neighbors in costumes, others felt breathtakingly real. Even now, the artist vividly recalls an Angel of such celestial beauty that it couldn’t have been from this world.