Holidays in the Czech Republic are celebrated amicably and cheerfully. Czechs love fun, loud songs, dancing in the squares, various festivals and fairs. Cities are transformed beyond recognition, so many tourists tend to get into this wonderful country for some kind of festivities. But many are worried that if the Czechs have a day off, then everything will be closed: it will be impossible to change the currency, go to the museum or simply buy medicine at the pharmacy.
This article provides information about the main public holidays in the Czech Republic, interesting memorable days and church holidays. When will tourists come to the Czech Republic to get to a festival or fair with numerous shops with goodies or souvenirs?
New Year
On January 1, Czechs celebrate not only the onset of the next calendar year, they have this day coincides with the Day of Restoration of an Independent Czech State. Many tourists want to celebrate this holiday with the Czechs. Cities are decorated with decorated Christmas trees, luminous garlands, fairs are held. And in the evening, people always gather in the squares to watch the fireworks.
The New Year for the Czechs is called St. Sylvester Day. The main dish of the festive table is the carp baked with lentils, which is served with horseradish and apples. Residents of the country spend a holiday with their families, but giving gifts on this day is not accepted.
The President congratulates his fellow citizens on television at 13.00. On this day, all small shops, pharmacies, banks and post offices are closed. If you urgently need to buy something, you have to go to a large supermarket. In the central tourist cities there are exchangers, and if you need to buy medicine, then in large stores there are pharmacy stalls.
All tourist facilities are open on weekends and holidays. Their schedule is constant. Institutions are closed only on Mondays, so that even on holidays, tourists can see the beauties of this country.
There are no more holidays in the Czech Republic in January, but memorable days are celebrated on the 16th and 27th. First, they recall Jan Palach, who self-immolated on January 16, 1969, in protest against the Soviet occupation. And on January 27, Holocaust victims are commemorated.
February festivities
In January and February is Meatblow. This is a carnival period that begins with the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6 and comes to Lent. People dress up in different costumes (the main ones are a chimney sweep, a bear, a grandmother with a basket, a Jew with a bag), installations from the life of ancient craftsmen are on the streets, and scenes from the past can also be seen. Before fasting, the Czechs are full enough, so during this time they cook traditional fatty and nutritious dishes.
On February 14, young people prepare gifts for their soul mates: on Valentine's Day, loving couples present each other with traditional “valentines” - heart-shaped gifts.
March holidays
Although many Czech politicians want to cancel International Women's Day, traditionally on March 8 all men congratulate their beloved ladies on the spring holiday and give them bouquets of flowers. Nobody connects this day with the Communists and rewarding production leaders with red carnations. This holiday in the Czech Republic has long been associated with the love, flowers and smiles of girls on the streets. Sellers of flower stalls expect this holiday especially strongly, since in one day their revenue is multiply increased.
And March 12 is considered a memorable day in the country. In the late 90s, Czech politicians began consultations with prominent US figures about the country's entry into NATO. It was a long process, but already in mid-April 1998, at a parliamentary session, the majority voted in favor. And only on March 12 of the following year the country officially joined NATO.
March 28 is remembered in the homeland of the great teacher Jan Amos Comenius. Teachers still use his didactic system, although the famous Czech lived in the early 17th century, and according to the cool-lesson system he invented, schoolchildren from all over the world are still engaged.
Easter days
Easter is celebrated at different times, approximate dates are the end of March - the beginning of April. These days priests hold religious processions, people paint eggs and go to church services.
City streets are filled with fairs and colorful Easter eggs. Gingerbread in the shape of a lamb is given to children, and a hare is always present on the table.
What the Czechs celebrate in May
May 1 is the celebration of labor in the Czech Republic. On this day, do not hold demonstrations with a large crowd in the streets and squares, processions with flags and portraits of rulers. People go to relax in the countryside, grill meat, spend time with friends, family and loved ones.
Memory of the war
On May 5, citizens recall 1945. After the Soviet troops had already entered the territory of Moravia, Czech militias organized an uprising against the Nazis, which was supported by the troops of General A.A. Vlasova. The Czechs gave them armbands the color of the national flag so as not to confuse the soldiers with the Fritzes in the shootings. Almost 1700 Czechs and 300 Vlasov soldiers died in battles for the city. The fighting went on until surrender. Thanks to the uprising, Soviet soldiers lost only 30 people during the assault on Prague.
What holiday in the Czech Republic on May 8? Victory Day over Nazi Germany. Grateful descendants bring flowers to the soldiers' monuments, lay wreaths on the graves. Like all of Western Europe, the Czechs celebrate a great victory on the day of the signing of the surrender of the Germans, and that was on May 8th. This is a public holiday in the Czech Republic. Citizens do not work on this day.
For two weeks, a beer festival in the Czech Republic is very fun. Since 2008, every year on the outskirts of Prague, numerous tents have been set up, delicious Czech natural beer poured by the rivers, meat is fried, Czechs and tourists from all over Europe have fun. Brewers put on national costumes, musicians perform, folk music sounds, dance groups from all over the country.
Memorable dates in June
June 10, people remember the terrible tragedy of the inhabitants of the village of Lidice. Since Czech patriots destroyed Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazi protector, the Fritz decided to show the Czechs their ruthlessness. They chose a village near Prague, drove all the inhabitants together, most of them were shot, children were killed in a gas chamber, and all women were sent to concentration camps. The village was burned to the ground. In many European cities there is Liditska street, so named in memory of the terrible reprisal of innocent people.
The celebration of the Five-Petalled Rose Festival in Cesky Krumlov takes place on June 17th. It was such a rose that was painted on the coat of arms of the last rulers of the castle - Rozhmberkov. On this day, people seem to fall into the Middle Ages: knights on horseback, equipped with armor and swords, ride through the streets, tournaments are held, all people wear old clothes, and beer is pouring in the river.
June 27 is considered a memorial day for the victims of the communist regime. On this day in 1950, Milada Gorakova was executed. It is believed that the Communists killed about 20 thousand citizens of the country. On this day, candles are lit in Prague (on the banks of the river). Commemorative events are held throughout the country. In Prague’s Mala Strana area, a memorial to the victims of communism was created by Albram Zoubek - 7 sculptures symbolize the suffering of a person going to death.
July
The only official holiday in the Czech Republic, which is both state and church, is the Day of the Slavic Saints Cyril and Methodius. Cyril and Methodius created the Old Slavonic alphabet, which allowed to develop writing and convey the word of God to the masses. The brothers were elevated to the face of saints by both Orthodox and Catholic priests. This holiday is celebrated on July 5th.
The next day, they recall Jan Hus, the country's national hero, a preacher and reformer of the church. For his ideas, he was persecuted by the Catholic clergy and was burned along with his printed works on the square in Constanta, after which the Hussite wars began. Jan Hus's execution day is celebrated on July 6, and a monument is erected in the Old Town Square in the center of Prague in memory of the hero. Bonfires are lit in all cities in memory of Gus, and sermons are held in chapels.
St. Wenceslas Day
This holiday is celebrated on September 28th. It is also called the Day of Czech Statehood. Popular among the people, Wenceslas, who lived at the end of the first millennium, was a very fair, honest and pious ruler. It was he who issued a decree to build St. Vitus Cathedral.
Wenceslas was an unusually educated person and believed that only the rise of morality and education can make people strong and united. The pagan rulers did not like his worldview, so they killed him. However, his death only contributed to the final establishment of Christianity in the Czech Republic. Grateful Czechs called the central square in Prague Wenceslas.
October Independence Day
The correct name of the holiday is as follows: Day of the emergence of the independent Czechoslovak Republic. Celebrate it on October 28th. The reader can rightly notice that there is already no state with that name. In 1918, the Czechs, together with the Slovaks, gained independence from Austria-Hungary.
Even after the "Velvet Revolution", having said goodbye to the communist past forever, after the partition of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the people celebrate Independence Day in October. This is a public holiday, which is also a day off.
Day for Freedom and Democracy
November 17 may also be called Students' Day. In 1939, tragic events occurred: Czech young people rebelled against German occupation. After the funeral of student Jan Opletala, who dared to protest at a meeting of students, Nazi repression swept across the country. Many universities closed, students were executed or sent to concentration camps.
The protest events repeated in 1989: students took to the streets against the Communists. After this, a revolution occurred that crossed out the Soviet past of the country.
Favorite Christmas Holidays
In the Czech Republic, the year ends with St. Nicholas Day. This holiday is celebrated on December 6. The kids are waiting for him, as traditionally on this day they receive gifts.
Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 24th, and Christmas (Vanoce) is December 25th. The streets are decorated with Christmas nativity scenes showing scenes of the birth of Jesus Christ. People have fun on the streets and at home, prepare carp, drink beer, relax and watch movies.
Here are all the main holidays of the Czech Republic: both state and church.