41 Days Until Christmas Eve:

How to Prepare Without the Last-Minute Rush

Every year, someone says it: “This year, we’ll start early.” And then, somehow, it’s December 23 again, one gift is still missing, and so is the wrapping paper.

As of November 13, there are 41 days left until Christmas Eve. That’s enough time to get everything done in small steps, and this week-by-week Christmas checklist will help.

Mid-November: plan first

Where will you celebrate, who is coming, and what’s the one thing you can’t skip? It’s also worth setting a budget now, rather than adding up the receipts in January.

• ☐ Agree on dates and venues

• ☐ Make a gift list

• ☐ Set a holiday budget

• ☐ Share out the tasks among the family

From mid-November: the first gifts

If you already know what to buy, now is the time, while the selection is still full.

• Books or gift vouchers: Líra bookshop

• Toys and board games for kids: REGIO JÁTÉK

• Small pampering gifts for colleagues and teachers: dm and Rossmann

• An experience for the person who “doesn’t need anything”: Feldobox gift machine

• A treat for your pets: Fressnapf

A few small things to do in the meantime:

• ☐ Check your wrapping supplies. Anything missing is available at TEDi.

• ☐ Test the fairy lights while there’s still time to replace them

• ☐ List the gifts you’ve bought, and where you’ve hidden them

Early December: St. Nicholas and the festive table

On December 5 and 6, St. Nicholas (Mikulás) will be waiting for children on the ground floor, with a photo corner.

When it comes to the holiday menu, feel free to keep it simple: if two kinds of cake will do, there’s no need for five.

• ☐ Finalise the menu and the number of guests

• ☐ Agree on who brings what

• ☐ Put a family baking afternoon in the calendar

For table decorations or a bouquet to bring as a host gift, visit Merci&Fleur.

Mid-December: wrap a little at a time

Two or three gifts an evening is plenty. Add the name tags straight away, because after a week, every box looks the same.

• ☐ Buy the remaining gifts

• ☐ Keep one evening free for whatever comes up

December 21–23: just the essentials

This is not the time for new ideas. Now it’s all about the fresh ingredients. SPAR and ALDI open at 7 a.m. Monday to Saturday, so you can do the big shop before the rush.lurdyhaz+1

Good to know for your Christmas checklist

Opening hours: shops are open Monday to Saturday 10:00–20:00 and Sunday 10:00–19:00. Holiday opening hours will be available on the website.

Parking: there are almost 1,300 spaces, and the first 60 minutes in the surface car park are free once per day. Parking fees and details

Parcel pickup: you can collect your online orders at Lurdy Ház, and there’s free parcel storage too. Parcel pickup points at Lurdy Ház

What matters most

It doesn’t all have to be perfect. Save some of those 41 days for the things we love about Christmas: talking, laughing, and spending time together.