Independent Czechoslovak State Day
Independent Czechoslovak State Day is a public national holiday in the Czech Republic, also known as the Foundation of the Independent Czechoslovak State Day. This holiday has been observed since 1918.
Czech Republic (National holiday)This holiday is observed annually on October 28 and commemorates the day when Czechoslovakia was founded—a day that is viewed and celebrated in the Czech Republic as a celebration of the country’s origins when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed at the end of World War I. Czech independence was celebrated on October 28, 1918, and the president of the First Republic was Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
The History of Independent Czechoslovak State Day
Although it is beyond the scope of this article to provide a thorough history of Czechoslovakia for Independent Czechoslovak State Day, we can cover some of the highlights that led to the creation of this holiday.
This holiday was originally part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the collapse of this empire at the end of WWI. The majority of Czech society, however, did not regard themselves as part of the empire, and that sentiment was further exacerbated when the First World War began.
In 1916, T.G. Masaryk, Edvard Beneš, and M.R. Štefánik established what would eventually become the Czechoslovak National Council—a major partner in the resistance against the empire. In January of 1918, the Three Kings’ Declaration began, and that was the call for independence.
On October 28, 1918, the Cereal Institute was taken over by the Agricultural Council to prevent grain from being transported to the front to supply the Austrian military. This would be followed by a recognition of Austro-Hungary’s conditions of peace and the establishment of an independent state. The First Republic was founded, and this term applies to the period from October until the Munich Agreement of 1938.
Observing Independent Czechoslovak State Day
During this holiday, the president of the Czech Republic and key members of the government take the opportunity to lay flowers on the grave of President Masaryk. It is also a day on which honors and awards are given to those Czech citizens who contribute to the social and/or cultural life of the Czech Republic.
Czech Republic (National holiday)
