Slovaks celebrate 15 public holidays in 2019. Most of the holidays have fixed dates. Only Good Friday and Easter Monday depend on the first spring full moon, Easter falls on the first Sunday following it. Slovak holidays don’t slide. If the holiday occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, it doesn’t move to the next Monday. 4 holidays fall on a Sunday in 2019.
As a relocated employee, digital nomad, expat or an Erasmus student, you might experience an unpleasant surprise, if you go to your favourite local shop and it is closed in the middle of the week due to a public holiday. The type of shop where the owner stands behind the counter and serves their own customers, can stay open during the holiday though. This is usually the same with petrol stations, pharmacies or the shops located in airports, railway stations or hospitals.
Here’s a list of all Slovak public holidays 2019, including their brief history and tips for you to make the most of them.
Republic Day
- January 1 (Tuesday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
On January 1 Slovak people celebrate the foundation of Slovakia as an independent republic. Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. This act is sometimes called the Velvet Divorce as it was a unusually calm separation. All municipalities and governmental authorities fly the flag on this day.
1 January is also a day of rest for most Slovaks who tend to spend it with their families looking back upon the previous year and making New Year’s resolutions for the following one.
Epiphany
- January 6 (Sunday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
Epiphany or the Three Kings' Day is a Christian holiday commemorating firstly, the manifestation of God as Jesus Christ and secondly, the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. Traditionally, groups of 3 people, often boys, dressed up in long white dresses and paper crowns go from house to house and sing a carol or perform the visit to the Christ Child. They also write the first letters of their names (G+M+B), and the year, above doors to bless the houses. The Three Kings get money or small presents for their carolling. The money is often donated to a charity. January 6 concludes the Christmas period and most people take the decorations down from their trees.
Good Friday
- April 19 (Friday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
The date of the holiday changes every year. Easter falls on the Sunday after the first spring full moon.
As most of the Slovak population is Roman Catholic, Easter is the most important Christian holiday of the year and is connected with fasting and church ceremonies.
Good Friday is a day when Jesus Christ was crucified. As an expression of sorrow and suffering, holy masses are not celebrated this day and the faithful fast. A traditional fasting meal is sweet potato dumplings with poppy seeds.
It is forbidden to dig, set anything to the ground or work with earth in any way as it represents Christ’s body. Good Friday is also a day of cleaning. In the past, it was believed that the water from springs had a healing power early in the morning of this day and could cure people from injuries.
Easter Monday
- April 22 (Monday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
The date of the holiday changes every year. Easter falls on the Sunday after the first spring full moon.
Though Christian Easter culminates on Easter Day which is Sunday, the folk traditions are more connected with Easter Monday. This day, boys and men pour cold water or sometimes perfumes over girls and women. It’s an ancient custom ensuring them good health and fertility. In western parts of Slovakia it is more common to spank women with Easter whips called “korbac”. Some regions keep both traditions. Women provide decorated hard-boiled eggs, chocolates and sweets for the boys and a shot of spirit for the men.
Traditional Easter feast foods are sweet Easter bread, salty cake made of eggs, ham and sausages called “paska” or “calta”, eggy cheese called “hrudka” and much more.
Labour Day
- May 1 (Wednesday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
Labour Day is celebrated all around the world since 1890 as a commemoration of the massive demonstrations of Chicago labourers in 1886. In Czechoslovakia, May 1 was declared a national holiday in 1919. Labour Day was massively promoted during the communist era and so these days many people are ambivalent about it. You can sometimes come across towns or communities that do communist-like retro parades for a joke.
Liberation Day
- May 8 (Wednesday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
People around Europe celebrate Liberation or Victory Day around this date. May 8 signifies the victory of the Allied forces and the end of World War II in 1945. Slovakia, lead by Josef Tiso, allied with the Nazis and was part of the Fascist Third Reich. May 8 is a day of parades and state ceremonies. The political leaders and war veterans join parades and lay wreaths to the victims of the War.
St Cyril and St Methodius Day
- July 5 (Friday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
Cyril and Methodius Day celebrates the arrival of St. Cyril (Constantine) and St. Methodius (Metodej) to Great Moravia. They were Christian teachers and came from Greek Salonika in 863. Cyril and Methodius propagated the Christian faith and created a new Glagolitic script. They also enforced Old Slavonic as the official language.
Slovak Uprising Day
- August 29 (Thursday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
29 August 1944 was the first day of the Slovak National Uprising, the most significant part of modern Slovak history, an act of courage and patriotism. Slovakia, lead by President Josef Tiso, allied with Nazis during the Second World War. There were people who not only disagreed but also actively revolted against course their country was taking. Slovak partisans supported by the Soviets and Romanians bravely warred against the professional German troops for several months till the liberation of Slovakia in April 1945. Slovaks highly value the Slovak National Uprising and celebrate it with many ceremonies across the country.
Constitution Day
- September 1 (Sunday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
Slovak Constitution Day commemorates the adoption of the Slovak Constitution on 1 September 1992. After being a part of other countries for many years, this act together with the split of Czechoslovakia and the beginning of the independent Slovak Republic on 1 January 1993 is a significant event for Slovak people. Many institutions such as the National Parliament or Bratislava Castle hold an open day on 1 September.
Lady of Sorrows’ Day
- September 15 (Sunday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
The Virgin Mary, Lady of Seven Sorrows, was declared the patron saint of Slovakia by Pope Paul VI.in 1966. The Roman Catholics celebrate it on 15 September. St Mary suffered from many sorrows in her life. The church doctrine emphasizes seven of them. Number seven means fullness in the spiritual sense. Thousands of faithful make a pilgrimage to the national shrine in Sastin-Straze, consecrated to the Our Lady Sorrows, on this day.
All Saints' Day
- November 1 (Friday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
Another religious holiday falls on 1 November. The faithful go to masses and commemorate all saints, including the ones who sacrificed their lives to the others, even though they don’t have a special day consecrated to them. The following day, November 2, is known as All Souls' Day. People remember their beloved deceased by laying wreaths, candles and decorations on their graves.
Despite being relatively new, the Halloween tradition is becoming more and more popular among Slovaks too.
Freedom and Democracy Day
- November 17 (Sunday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
The Freedom and Democracy Day falls on November 17. Firstly, it is the anniversary of the closing down of Czechoslovakian universities by the Nazis in 1939. Secondly, it is the commemoration of the demonstration of students in November 1989 that led to the end of the communist era in Czechoslovakia. It is known as the Velvet Revolution because of the minimum of violence that accompanied it. Most of the protests were organised in Prague and Bratislava and both the Czech and Slovak Republic celebrate this important date of their common history.
Christmas Eve
- December 24 (Tuesday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
Christmas Eve is a magical time. Slovaks decorate Christmas trees and many of them fast before the first star appears in the sky. Fish, traditionally carp, potato salad and cabbage salad are served for Christmas dinner. Women bake several kinds of Christmas sweets and fluffy sweet pastry called “vianocka” braided from 9 strands. After dinner, a bell rings and families gather around Christmas trees under which the baby Jesus has laid presents. Then, it’s time to go to midnight Christmas mass and also to see beautifully carved Christmas cribs often installed in local churches.
First Christmas Day
- December 25 (Wednesday)
- Most shops and offices are closed
Christmas Day is the day of Jesus Christ’s birth. People often go to a mass in the morning to celebrate this event. It is also a day of feasting and family gatherings. More presents are given among the members of the broader family.
Second Christmas Day
- December 26 (Thursday)
- Most shops and offices are closed.
Slovaks spend 26 December similarly to the previous day. They meet family, feast and give each other presents. This day is also devoted to St Stephan. He was the protomartyr of Christianity. In the past, servants caroled and were often released from service on St. Stephan’s Day.
Public holidays in Slovakia are a time when you can’t do your shopping or call in a local office to arrange something. On the other hand, they bring an unrepeatable atmosphere and a number of both church and secular events across the country. They are a perfect time to experience the true spirit of Slovakia. And for that, you will surely need accommodation. What about some short term rentals of furnished apartments and rooms directly in Bratislava? We cover your back!
