Despite nation’s reputation for atheism, one in four Czechs to attend December 24 midnight mass

One in four Czechs are planning to attend midnight mass on December 24, suggests a poll conducted by the Median agency and published in Lidové noviny. The newspaper said the expected attendance at midnight mass somewhat contradicted the Czech Republic’s reputation as one of Europe’s most atheistic states. One priest told the daily that the midnight service was often full of “once a year attendees”, rather than regular church-goers. An expert on religion said annual church-goers were either believers who do not normally attend services, or non-believers who view Christmas mainly in cultural terms and enjoy the music.