Czech Independence Day (1 January)
A day to mark the creation of an independent Czech Republic following the division of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993.
Liberation Day (8 May)
The day commemorates the liberation of the Czechoslovakia by the Allies in May 1945.
Day of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius (5 July)
The missionaries Cyril and Methodius are closely associated with the arrival of Christianity in this country and the first Slavic alphabet, Cyrillic (in the year 863).
Jan Hus Day (6 July)
The day marking the burning of Jan Hus at the stake (6. 7. 1415). Jan Hus was a reforming religious leader and the rector of Prague University.
Day of Czech Statehood (28 September)
The day Czech Prince Wenceslas was murdered in the year 935 by his own brother. Not long after his death he was declared a saint. On this day the Czechs celebrate their patron saint and symbol of Czech statehood and national identity.
Czechoslovak Independence Day (28 October)
A public holiday to mark the day Czechs and Slovaks established their own state in 1918 – the most important national holiday of the year.
Freedom and Democracy Day (17 November)
The day Czechs remember the student struggles of 1939 and 1989 against the Nazi and communist regimes.
Other holidays:
- New Year (1. January)
- Easter Monday (March/April, changes every year)
- Workers’ Day (1 May)
- Christmas Eve (24 December)
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Feast of St Stephen (26 December)
School holidays
The main school holidays are in summer (July and August around 1. 7. and 31. 8.). Children are also off school around Christmas (usually from 23 December –until 3 January) and in spring (a whole week – differs according to location).
