Holidays

Holidays in Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, some high Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas are work-free, but Pentecost and Ascension Day are not.

The state that emerged from Czechoslovakia has also proclaimed seven holidays that commemorate political events of the nation in the older and more recent past. In addition to the founding days of Czechoslovakia in 1918 and Czechoslovakia in 1993, for example, apostles, St. Wenceslas and reformer Jan Hus are honored with their own state holidays.

Overview

New Year’s Day/ Day of Renewal of the Independent Czech State 1993 -1 January

Easter Monday – March/April

Labor Day -1 May

Day of Liberation from Fascism 1945 – May 8

Day of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius – July 5

Day of the death of Jan Hus – July 6

Death anniversary of St. Wenceslas – September 28

Founding Day of Czechoslovakia in 1918 – October 28

Christmas – December 24, 25, 26

Worth knowing about selected holidays

Day of the Slavic Apostles Cyril and Methodius

The brother priests Cyril and Methodius converted Slavic peoples to Christianity in the 9th century by holding masses in Slavic for the first time. The missionaries have been venerated as saints since the Middle Ages. Pope John Paul II named the Slavic apostles co-patrons of Europe in 1980. The culmination of church celebrations in honour of the saints is the Moravian pilgrimage site of Velehrad every year on July 5. On the eve, “A concert for all people of good will” has been held in front of the basilica for several years.

The anniversary of the death of Jan Hus

Jan Hus meant to the Czechs what Martin Luther meant to the Germans a century later. The 15th-century Bohemian reformer and theologian translated the Bible into Czech, preached in the vernacular and fought the sale of indulgences. When he refused to recant his teachings, Jan Hus and his writings were burned at the stake as heretics in 1415. Memorial services are held on the anniversary of his death on July 6.

The anniversary of the death of Saint Wenceslas

St. Wenceslas enjoys cult status in the Czech Republic. The Bohemian prince was killed by his brother in the 10th century. Whether this was a matter of Wenceslas’ pro-German politics or of the usual power disputes is a matter of dispute among historians to this day. What is certain is that the brother repented of his actions and had Wenceslas’ bones transferred to St Vitus Cathedral in Prague.

The first stories of miraculous healings were not long in coming, and Wenceslas was canonized while his brother was still reigning. A saint in their own ranks helped the Wenceslas dynasty to great prestige throughout Europe and the Czechs to a new national feeling. A myth was born and continues to have an effect to this day.

Wenceslas Square in Prague is the meeting place of the Czechs and has repeatedly been the scene of political disputes. The anniversary of Wenceslas’ death on September 28 has been commemorated since 2000 as “Czech Statehood Day” with official events under the auspices of the president of the Czech Republic.