Czech National Holidays
JANUARY 1- NEW YEAR
• This day celebrates the start of the New
Year.
• Many people prepare a big meal including
pork for good luck and lentils for
prosperity. Stay away from fish and poultry
today.
• It is also the Day of the Establishing of the
Czech Republic in 1993. On this day the
president of the republic has a speech to
the nation and he awards honours to the
most prominent personalities of the
political, social and cultural life of the
republic.
Easter- a Christian holiday celebrating the
Resurrection of Jesus.The symbols of Easter are much the
same as the symbols of spring: lamb and artistically
decorated eggs. On Easter Monday men go carolling. They
carry elaborately plaited Easter whips with which they whip
women to be healthy.
May 1 – Labour Day
• Worker´s Day commemorates
the efforts of labour unions to
improve working conditions
for all people. Today, Labour
day is meant to honour all
workers, by giving them a day
off. Many people spend this
day in the country while others
take part in numerous political
meetings and demonstations.
May 8 – Liberation Day
• The end of the WWII in Europe in
1945 and the liberation from
fascism is celebrated. The people
who fought and died for our
freedom are remembered.
• On 5th May an uprising broke out in Prague. At
the time the American Army liberated Pilsen,
but the Soviets did not allow the Americans to
proceed towards Prague, as it lay in the Soviet
sphere of the divided Europe. In the early
hours of the 9thMay the first tanks of the Soviet
Army arrived in Prague from Berlin, which
meant the end of the fighting.
July 5- Cyril & Methodius Day
• is consacrated to two
missionaries, brothers
St.Cyril and St.
Methodius, who brought
Christianity to the Slavic
people of central Europe
in 863. The brothers
translated the Holy
Scriptures and other
liturgical texts into the
Slavonic language.
July 6 – Jan Hus Day
• commemorates Jan Hus, a
Catholic priest , preacher, the
rector of Prague University and
a religious reformer. He was
burned at the stake as a heretic
because of his efforts to stop
corruption in the Church( 1415).
Hus did not recognize the
authority of church hierarchy,
especially the pope. He wanted
the return of the practices of the
primary church.
• His death gave an impetus to a
great Hussite movement in
Bohemia. (1419 – 1434)
September 28–St.Wenceslas Day
• This day is celebrated as
Czech Statehood day. It
commemorates the
anniversary of the death of
prince Wenceslas, Duke of
Bohemia. In 935 the Prince
was assassinated at the
behest of his brother.Soon
afterwards he was canonized
and became the patron saint
of the Czech nation. His fame
spread outside the country due
to the popular Christmas carol,
Good King Wenceslas.
October 28 – Czechoslovak
Independence Day
• On this day in 1918, the
independent
Czechoslovak Republic
was founded. After WWI,
the Austro-Hungarian
Empire disintegrated and
an independent country
was established.
T.G.Masaryk became
Czechoslovakia´s first
president.
November 17- Struggle for
Freedom and Democracy Day
• This day honours the student
demonstration against the Nazis
in 1939, as well as the protests
against the Communists in 1989.
• In 1939, a medical student, Jan Opletal
was killed and soon the Germans
violently suppressed the protests and
closed all Czech colleges.
• 50 years later, many students protested
against another kind of
oppression.These demonstrations
marked the beginning of the „Velvet
revolution“ and started the path
towards democracy .
Christmas – 24-26 December
• A Christian holiday, celebrating
the birth of Jesus.
• As the Czech society is the
most atheistic society in Europe
(only 32 % believers), this
holiday has lost much if its
spiritual character. People
rather enjoy free days, entertain
themselves in various ways,
families and friends gather at
Christmas Eve dinner
(traditional fried carp and potato
salad) and exchange presents.