December 5 sees children clean their shoes and leave them on the windowsill for Mikulás (St. Nicholas), who leaves goodies in the shoes of those who have been good.  There are sweets and chocolates, nuts, oranges, and perhaps a little gift. Mikulás' sooty-faced assistant, Krampus, leaves garlic and onions or a piece of coal for bad children.

Christmas (Vianoce) lasts three days, with the main celebration on the 24th. Christmas trees (or pine branches which are hung from the ceiling, since most apartments are often not large enough to have room for a full tree) are decorated a few days ahead. Around 2 or 3:00 pm on the 24^th Protestants gather in churches for a celebratory worship service with lots of Christmas carols, and often the children perform as well.

After church, families go home for a traditional meal. It starts with thin wafers (oblatky) with honey and garlic (for the sweetness and bitterness of life, or to symbolize a wish for wealth and health in the coming year). This is followed by a spicy sauerkraut, dried mushroom, pork and sausage soup (Catholics usually have a meatless version). The main dish is fried carp, often bought live from large vats around the city and kept in the bathtub for a few days—and potato salad. Lots of cakes and cookies, nuts and fruits are also enjoyed.

Gifts for small children are brought by baby Ježiš (Jesus) in Catholic homes, whereas in evangelical homes they are brought by small angels. The Christmas story might be read or carols and stories sung and shared. At midnight church bells ring and people often go on foot to the nearest Catholic church for a midnight service

On the 25^th and 26^th (first and second days of Christmas) people visit extended family and friends to exchange gifts and share a meal.  In villages you might find groups of children parading through the town carrying a manger or a church, dressed as the three wise men and singing carols. Often people go skiing in the Slovak or neighboring Austrian mountains between the holidays.