When do schools start winter holidays in Czechia?

Here are the important dates you need to know regarding winter break for students in the Czech Republic.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 07.12.2022 14:30:00 (updated on 07.12.2022) Reading time: 1 minute

As the Czech Republic heads into the holiday season, travel plans are starting to take shape. How many days will we have off work this year and how many days will we spend at home with the kids?

The 2022 winter break for schools runs for eleven days from Friday, Dec. 23 to Monday, Jan. 2 according to the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, with students returning to school on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.

Students will enjoy more time off than their working parents as Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on weekends this year.

important days on the school calendar this winter

  • NOVEMBER to JANUARY Open-door days visitation days and virtual tours for 8-year, 6-year, and 4-year gymnasiums as well as specialized high schools and vocational school programs.
  • DEC. 23–JAN. 2 Winter/Christmas holiday for all grades in Czech schools.
  • JAN. 1 Criteria for 8-year, 6-year, and 4-year gymnasium programs as well as specialized high schools and vocational programs are available on individual school websites.
  • JAN. 31 Report cards for first semester are handed out.
  • FEB. 3 One-day half-term holiday falls on this Friday.
  • FEB. 6 Spring break across Czech regions begins.

Spring break in Czech schools begins in February. Different school districts in the Czech capital have their break on different days throughout the month of February and March. You can find a full list of spring breaks by region here.

Christmas Eve on Dec. 24 falls on Saturday, the Second Day of Christmas on Dec. 25 falls on Sunday, and Saint Stephen's Day falls on Monday, Dec. 26, making for a paltry three-day weekend for Christmas. 

New Year's Eve celebrations fall on Saturday, Dec. 31, which means Jan. 1, 2023, New Year's Day, and a Czech national holiday, The Day of the Restoration of the Independent Czech State, fall on Sunday with no time off.

Large stores over 200 square meters must close by 12 p.m. on Dec. 24 and are closed entirely on the first and second Christmas Day.

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