About Prague - Czech public holidays

There are seven public holidays and several commemorated days in the Czech Republic. The days are considered as bank holiday, when most shops and banks are closed. The most important holidays are associated with Czech statehood and culture.

1 January: New Years Day + Independence of the Czech State

This day, people celebrate the establishment of the independent Czech Republic after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993.

March - April: Easter Monday

Easter Monday relates to the Christian tradition of the passion and resurrection of Christ. There are many pilgrimages across Czech Republic. The most important tradition that comes back in history is the one when boys playfully hit girls with Easter sticks and sing Easter carols. Boys should receive eggs in return.

1 May: Labour Day / May Day

This feast corresponds to the international Labour Day.

8 May: Day of liberation

The end of World War II is commemorated in memory of 8 May 1945. This day, Czechoslovakia occupied by Germany, was liberated by American and Russian armed forces.

5 July: Day of St. Cyril and St. Methodius

In 863, Slavonic Apostles Cyril and Methodius came from Thessaloniki, who brought Christianity to Czech territory with new alphabet and writings. This is a part of foundation of later Czech culture.

6 July: Burning of Jan Hus

Jan Hus, a Czech religious thinker, philosopher and reformer of the Catholic Church, was burned for his ideas in Constance (Switzerland) in 1415. This is one of the most sad days in Czech history.

28 September: Day of Czech Statehood

28 September is related to the murder of Saint Wenceslas, the monarch and future patron of the Bohemian nation, was murdered by his brother Boleslav in Stara Boleslav.

28 October: Czechoslovak Independence Day

This feast is associated with the emergence of the independent Czechoslovak Republic in 1918. Independent state of Czechs and Slovaks was established after the secession of Austro-Hungarian Empire. The state was created by today's territory of Czech Rep. and Slovakia, and Under-Carpathian Russia (this belonged to Soviet Union after WWII and today to Ukraine).

17 November: Day of Students' Fight for Freedom and Democracy

This is the youngest public holiday, recognized just recently. On 17 November 1939, a student demonstration against the Nazi occupation was organized, during which a student, Jan Opletal, was shot. Right after that, universities were closed and Nazis persecuted and executed more students.

Fifty years later, demonstration on Narodni trida marked the beginning of Czechoslovak return to democracy after communist regime.

24, 25, 26 December: Christmas

Christmas relates to the birth of Jesus Christ. Many Czech Christmas traditions relate to these days.