Czechs prepare to celebrate Christmas Eve

Czechs around the country are preparing to celebrate Christmas Eve, with most people getting ready for the traditional festive dinner of carp with potato salad and children looking forward to receiving gifts in the evening, which in the Czech Republic are brought by "Ježíšek", i.e. the baby Jesus. Many people, even those who are not religious and do not normally go to church, attend the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

All shops in Czechia with an area of over 200 square metres had to close by law at noon on Sunday, and will only reopen on Wednesday, December 27th. Small shops up to 200 square metres in size, as well as shops at railway stations, airports, pharmacies or gas stations, are allowed to stay open.