Czech holiday calendar 2023: Three state holidays fall on a weekend

Overall, 2023 shapes up fairly well for long weekends, with 10 out of the 13 holidays falling on weekdays.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 27.12.2022 13:00:00 (updated on 27.12.2022) Reading time: 2 minutes

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Illustrative image via iStock, choi dongsu.
Illustrative image via iStock, choi dongsu.
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In some English-speaking countries, mandatory public days off are called “bank holidays” so it makes sense that the Czech National Bank (ČNB) has published a list of the national holidays that mean time off in 2023.

This year's holiday calendar is an improvement over last year when a number of national holidays fell on the weekend. Czechia has 13 national holidays and, except for Good Friday and Easter Monday, the dates of those holidays are fixed. 

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In 2023, three holidays fall on the weekend: New Year's Day (Jan. 1) on a Sunday, the Establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic (Oct. 28) on a Saturday, and Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) on a Sunday.

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Unfortunately, according to ČNB, Czechia doesn't use the "sliding holiday" concept that allows for a Monday off when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

The first block of holidays after the new year is Easter, with a four-day weekend from Good Friday on April 7 to Easter Monday on April 10. While it's not a public holiday, Masopust, the Czech version of Mardi Gras, falls on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The next set of holidays results in two three-day weekends in a row, with May Day (May 1) and Liberation from Fascism (May 8) both on Mondays. Freedom and Democracy Day (Nov. 17) also falls on a Friday, making for another three-day weekend. Christmas leads to a four-day weekend, with just Dec. 24 lost to a Sunday.

Those who combine vacation days with national holidays will be able to create two sizeable breaks throughout the year: This summer, Cyril and Methodius day (July 5) and Jan Hus day (July 6) fall on Wednesday and Thursday. Czech Statehood Day (Sept. 28) is also on Thursday. By taking off just two Fridays – July 7 and Sept. 29 – one can get a five-day weekend in the summer and a four-day weekend in the fall.

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As with every year 2016, large stores over 200 square meters must remain closed on New Year's Day, Easter Monday, May 8, Sept. 28, Oct. 28, and Dec. 25 and 26. Most shops also close at noon on Dec. 24, the first day of Czech Christmas.

2024 gets off to a good start, with Jan. 1 falling on a Monday, but it's a leap year, and the extra day in February will push some holidays into the weekend.

Holiday outlook for 2023

  • Jan. 1 – New Year's Day (Sunday)*
  • April 7 – Good Friday (Friday)
  • April 10 – Easter (Monday)*
  • May 1 – May Day (Monday)
  • May 8 – Liberation from Fascism (Monday)*
  • July 5 – Cyril and Methodius (Wednesday)
  • July 6 – Jan Hus (Thursday)
  • Sept. 28 – Czech Statehood Day (Thursday)*
  • Oct. 28 – Establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic (Saturday)*
  • Nov. 17 – Freedom and Democracy Day (Friday)
  • Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve (Sunday)**
  • Dec. 25 – Christmas Day (Monday)*
  • Dec. 26 – Christmas Day (Tuesday)*

 *large stores closed by law / **on Dec. 24 large stores close at noon.

#Christmas #easter #expat life #Holidays #Velvet Revolution #world war II
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