Holidays in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic is an amazing country in which hospitable and inventive people live. Holidays in the Czech Republic - this is a real fun. They are very diverse: this people knows how to cherish and preserve traditions and at the same time have fun all over the country. Here you can see quiet cozy holidays with family and friends, take part in folk festivals with music, dances and fairs and. In any case, having visited this country, it will be impossible to forget its holidays.

Official Holidays in Czech Republic

Public holidays in the Czech Republic are established by legislative bodies and are regulated by law . Also, apart from official, Czech law determines national celebrations - they are all days off. So, let's look at the calendar of public holidays in the Czech Republic:

1. Day of restoration of the independent Czech state. It is celebrated at the same time as the New Year, 1 January. On this memorable day the Czechs recall the boundary of 1992-1993, when the independent state of the Czech Republic emerged after the division of Czechoslovakia.
2. Victory Day. In the Czech Republic, this holiday is celebrated annually on May 8 - then in 1945 Czechoslovakia was liberated by Russian soldiers from fascist Germany.
3. Day of Slavic saints Cyril and Methodius is celebrated every year on July 5th. In 863, they brought Christianity to the country and the principles of education.
4. The day of execution of Jan Hus . Remember this tragic day of Czech history on July 6. The priest, reformer of the Catholic Church and Czech thinker Jan Hus was burned on this day for his beliefs in the German town of Konstanz.
5. Day of Czech statehood . An important holiday in the Czech Republic is celebrated on September 28. It is closely connected with the Holy Orthodox Christian tradition. In 935, in Stary Boleslav, Prince Vaslav was killed by his brother. On this day every year in the country there is a celebration of the name of this saint. In Prague Castle, the President awards the medals of St. Wenceslas to people who have contributed to the Czech statehood.
6. The day of the emergence of the independent Czechoslovak Republic is celebrated on October 28. Recognition of the national rights of Slovaks and Czechs occurred in 1918. Statesmen headed by the President of the Republic lay flowers at the grave of the leader and first President Tomasz G. Masaryk. In the evening of the same day, the President presents awards to outstanding personalities of public and cultural life.
7. Day of struggle for freedom and democracy . In 1939, on November 17, during a student demonstration against the Nazi occupation, a student, Jan Opletal, was killed. After that repressions and persecutions of students began, the higher institutions were closed. Exactly 50 years later, students held an anti-communist demonstration in Prague on Narodny Prospekt. This event was brutally suppressed by the police, but the reaction has already gone and gave a powerful impetus for the country's transition to democracy.

National holidays in the Czech Republic

If the official holidays in the Czech Republic are celebrated in the same way as in other countries of the world, the people's holidays are held on a large scale, because they are associated with many interesting customs and traditions. The most magnificent celebrations are celebrated in December and January, when the influx of tourists begins. Each of them is a separate page of history and traditions that all Czechs honor and love. The most favorite holidays for the people of the Czech Republic:

1. New Year. As in most countries, it is celebrated on January 1, but starting to do so from the first days of December. The New Year celebration is noisy and fun. In most cities in the Czech Republic during New Year's holidays, there are carnival processions, fireworks and fireworks flash in the sky, and tourists have the opportunity to visit all kinds of fairs in the city squares. If you decide to spend New Year's holidays in the Czech Republic in 2018, then with a choice you will not be mistaken.
2. Good Friday. Since 2015, with the support of the Prime Minister, this is the official holiday in the Czech Republic. This is the day of Holy Week, dedicated to the memory of the death of Jesus Christ. A traditional religious procession is taking place across the country. Good Friday is calculated from the day of Easter, between March 23 and April 26.
3. Easter Monday. In the Czech Republic this Easter holiday is held with unusual traditions. The Czechs wear "pommies" - the withered twigs, woven into a pigtail, they men lightly lash all the fairer sexes who will be met on the street. It is believed that this method will help a woman stay beautiful and young. Women, in turn, can avoid this fate if they buy off sweets, Easter eggs or alcohol. Also there is a reciprocal ritual, in which the girls pour water on all the guys on the way.
4. Labor holiday. Like most countries, this day is celebrated on May 1. For the first time in the Czech Republic, Labor Day was held May 1, 1890 in Prague , the parade participants were more than 35 thousand people. In our time, parades are not held, but this weekend the Czechs can go to friends, relatives or just relax at home.
5. Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is on December 24th. The Czechs are especially prepared for this day - they fast, do not eat anything meaty. A traditional dish on the tables of all Czechs is fried carp with potato salad. In the morning of this day it is customary to wash with cold water, preferably from a stream. Next, according to tradition, feed the bears with sweets. For this, many people go to the town of Cesky Krumlov to the moat, where the bears live.
6. Christmas. He is celebrated in the Czech Republic for 2 days - on 25 and 26 December. Usually these days pass in the circle of the family and the closest friends. When preparing dishes, all members of the family participate - this special tradition is very close. The main dish on the table is a baked goose and a lot of different bakes.

Unofficial holidays in the Czech Republic

They are set by the legislative bodies, but there are also those who, over many decades and even centuries, have become a people's tradition. Because the Czechs continue to celebrate them:

1. International Women's Day. It is celebrated, as in all post-Soviet countries, on March 8. Until 1990 it was a state holiday, now it has been almost 20 years old.
2. Celebration of beer in the Czech Republic. The enchanting beer festival in the Czech Republic beats the records of hospitality and drunk beer. For 17 days Prague becomes the beer capital, hosting thousands of fans of a foam drink and hundreds of brewers from all over Europe.
3. Holiday of the five-petalled rose in the Czech Republic. Spirit of the Middle Ages, the era of knights and beautiful ladies - in these historical times during the solstice there is an opportunity to plunge into the locals and guests of the country. A colorful bright carnival, taking place in the Czech-Krumlov, will be an unforgettable summer event. In 2018, it runs from June 22 to June 24.
4. Film Festival. The spa town of Karlovy Vary for a few July days spreads the red carpet. Every summer in this city is the most prestigious international festival of Europe. In 2018, it will begin on July 8.
5. The festival of young wine in the Czech Republic begins with the advent of autumn. Young masters and experienced winemakers come to the central squares of all the cities of the Czech Republic. The law is allowed to sell Burchak (Czech wine) only from August 1 to November 30, and the peak of purchases of Czech wine falls in September-October.
6. The holiday of science in the Czech Republic . A unique event takes place from 1 to 15 November for the 13th time. Throughout the country there are various events that will significantly expand the knowledge not only of children, but also of adults. Usually during the festival more than 330 lectures, 60 exhibitions and various expositions are organized. Absolutely everyone can attend lectures, seminars and fascinating excursions to laboratories.
7. Festival of cannabis in the Czech Republic . This event is devoted to the correct use of cannabis, and it is not about smoking. Hemp is the most valuable natural resource that can be used efficiently and profitably in food, construction, textile, medicine, cosmetology, etc. The festival in Prague attracts representatives of more than 15 countries and demonstrates products from cannabis. Visitors can taste amazing creations from cannabis here - sweet cotton wool, ice cream, cheese, pasta, beer, noodles, various sweets, etc. In 2018, the cannabis festival will be held from 10 to 13 February.