GUIDE
9. Public Holidays
New Year’s Day (Nový rok) 1 January
Easter Monday (Pondělí velikonoční) March or Apríl - 1st Monday after the 1st spring full moon
Labour Day (Svátek práce) 1 May. Once the communist ‘holy’ day, it’s now just a chance for a picknic. To celebrate the arrival of spring, many couples lay flowers at the statue of the 19th century poet, Karel Hynek Mácha, author of Máj (May), a poem about unrequited love.
Liberation Day (Den osvo bození) 8 May. Anniversary of the liberation of Prague by its citizens in 1945. Under communism this was celebrated on 9 May, the day the Red Army marched in.
St Cyril & Methodius Day (Den Cyrila a Metoděje) 5 July. Recalls the Slavs’ introduction to literacy and Christianity by the two missionary monks from Thessaloniki.
Jan Hus Day (Den Jana Husa) 6 July. Commemorates the 1415 burning at the stake of the great Bohemian religious reformer.
Czech Statehood Day 28 September. St Wencelslas’ Day, patron the saint of the Czech Republic
Independence Day (Den vzniku Československa) 28 October. The anniversary of the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, now celebrated as the day of independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day 17 November
‘Generous Day‘, Christmas Eve (Štědrý den) 24 December. The big day for evening family meals and gift-giving.
Christmas Day (Vánoce) 25 December. The day for visiting friends and relatives, and a turkey and dumpling lunch.
St Stephen’s Day (Štěpána) 26 December.
Prague Castle