Public holiday in Czechia
Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State in Czechia
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Local name: Den obnovy samostatného českého státu / Nový rok
Nationwide public holiday
Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State is a nationwide public holiday in Czechia on 1 January. It marks the creation of the modern Czech state after the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia.
About Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State in Czechia
In Czechia, this holiday is part of the New Year public-holiday calendar and is observed nationwide on 1 January. Its significance lies in the country’s modern statehood: it commemorates the establishment of the independent Czech Republic after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, giving the day a civic and national rather than religious character. Because it falls on New Year’s Day, it is also one of the year’s first public holidays and is commonly experienced together with the start of the new calendar year.
History
The holiday refers to the formation of the Czech Republic on 1 January 1993, when Czechoslovakia ceased to exist and Czechia became an independent state. The date was later закрепed as a public holiday under the official Czech holiday calendar.
Traditions
There is no single formal ritual associated with the day. In practice, it is often marked in the same loose way as New Year’s Day: time with family or friends, a quieter pace after the previous evening’s celebrations, and informal gathering rather than ceremonial observance.
How Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State is celebrated in Czechia
Contemporary observance is usually subdued. Many people spend the day resting after New Year’s Eve, and public attention is more focused on the start of the year than on organized holiday events. Where celebrations do take place, they are typically private or local rather than nationwide public ceremonies.
Interesting facts
The holiday’s Czech name is Den obnovy samostatného českého státu. It falls on the same date as New Year’s Day, so the two observances coincide in practice.
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2027: Czech Act No. 245/2000, sections 1–4 (MPSV) · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.