Public holidays in the Czech Republic

Public holidays in the Czech Republic are defined by Act No. 245/2000, on national (public) holidays, on other holidays, on significant days and on days off from work. In addition to public holidays, this law also defines other holidays and significant days . Public holidays and other holidays are non-working days, significant days are working days (unless they fall on a Saturday or Sunday). Public holidays (unlike other holidays) "should remind citizens of the traditions, noble goals and historical twists and turns on which Czech statehood is built".

On some national and other holidays, the opening hours of some stores are limited by law.

Date	English Name	Czech Name	Remarks
1 January	Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State, New Year's Day	Den obnovy samostatného českého státu; Nový rok	Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Two days before Easter	Good Friday	Velký pátek	Good Friday has been a public holiday since 2016.
Day after Easter	Easter Monday	Velikonoční pondělí
1 May	May Day	Svátek práce
8 May	Victory Day	Den vítězství	1945, the end of the European part of World War II.
5 July	Saints Cyril and Methodius Day	Den slovanských věrozvěstů Cyrila a Metoděje	In 863, Church teachers St. Cyril (Constantine) and Metoděj (Methodius) came from the Balkans to Great Moravia to propagate Christian faith and literacy.
6 July	Jan Hus Day	Den upálení mistra Jana Husa	The religious reformer Jan Hus was burned at the stake in 1415.
28 September	Statehood Day	Den české státnosti	In 935, St. Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, now patron of the Czech State, was murdered by his brother.
28 October	Independent Czechoslovak State Day	Den vzniku samostatného československého státu	Independence Day and Creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
17 November	Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day and International Students' Day	Den boje za svobodu a demokracii	Commemorating the student demonstration against Nazi occupation in 1939, and the demonstration in 1989 that started the Velvet Revolution.
24 December	Christmas Eve	Štědrý den	Christmas is celebrated during the evening of the 24th.
25 December	Christmas Day	1. svátek vánoční
26 December	Second Day of Christmas	2. svátek vánoční

Restrictions on sales on public holidays

Since 2016, stores over 200 square meters must remain closed on New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Liberation Day (8 May), Statehood Day (28 September), Independent Czechoslovak State Day (28 October) and both Christmas Days (25 and 26 December). They must also close at noon on 24 December because this day most Czechs celebrate Christmas.

The closures do not apply to all stores. Small minimarkets and grocery stores with area smaller than 200 square metres (~2153 square feet) can remain open. Pharmacies, gas stations, shops at railway stations (including Prague's Hlavní nádraží), airports and hospitals are exempt.

See also

• Public holidays in Slovakia

External links

• Travel Advice, official web of the Czech Republic
• Detailed info