Skip to main content
HolidayList
🎉 festival

St. Wenceslas

Monday, September 28, 2026

— days to go

St. Wenceslas Day, observed on September 28, honors Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, a 10th-century Christian ruler who is the patron saint of the Czech Republic, Bohemia, and the Czech people. Known for his piety, justice, and charitable works, Wenceslaus was assassinated by his younger brother Boleslaus the Cruel in 935, an act that led to his immediate veneration as a martyr. The day is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, known as St. Wenceslas Day (Den ceske statnosti), and also serves as Czech Statehood Day, marking the foundation of Czech national identity. Saint Wenceslaus is celebrated in the famous Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas, which recounts a fictional story of the king braving a snowstorm to give alms to a poor peasant. His feast is observed in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, and his statue dominates Wenceslas Square in Prague.

History

Wenceslaus was born around 907 near Prague, the son of Duke Vratislaus I of Bohemia and Drahomira. Raised as a Christian by his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, he assumed the throne after his father's death. His reign was marked by efforts to Christianize Bohemia, strengthen ties with the Holy Roman Empire, and administer justice fairly. He built churches, supported the clergy, and was known for personally delivering alms to the poor and needy. In 935, his brother Boleslaus lured him to a church in Stará Boleslav and murdered him on the church steps, an event that immediately transformed Wenceslaus into a martyr and saint. His tomb in St. Vitus Cathedral became a major pilgrimage site. In 1853, the English hymn writer John Mason Neale wrote Good King Wenceslas, which made the saint widely known in the English-speaking world. In 2000, September 28 was declared Czech Statehood Day, commemorating both the saint and Czech national heritage.

How It's Celebrated

In the Czech Republic, St. Wenceslas Day is a national holiday celebrated with official ceremonies, flag-raising events, and speeches honoring Czech statehood. Religious services are held at St. Vitus Cathedral and at the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian in Stará Boleslav, where the saint was martyred. Wenceslas Square in Prague hosts gatherings and cultural performances. Throughout the country, people attend concerts of classical and folk music and visit historical exhibitions about Czech history. Children learn about Saint Wenceslas in schools and participate in reenactments. The Christmas carol Good King Wenceslas remains widely sung, particularly in English-speaking countries, keeping the saint's legacy alive in popular culture.

Other Years

2021 Tue
28 Sep
2022 Wed
28 Sep
2023 Thu
28 Sep
2024 Sat
9/28
2025 Sun
9/28
2027 Tue
9/28
2028 Thu
9/28
2029 Fri
28 Sep

Countries

🇬🇧 GB

You Might Also Like

View all →
📅 holiday May 25

August Bank Holiday

The August Bank Holiday in Ireland falls on the first Monday of August and is intended to provide a three-day weekend break for students and workers so they can enjoy the summer weather before the onset of autumn. In 2026, August Bank Holiday falls on Monday 3 August. The holiday will be on Monday 2 August in 2027. Nearby Scotland also celebrates the August Bank Holiday at the same time as Ireland. In Ireland, the August Bank Holiday is often referred to as simply “August Holiday.” The first Monday in August became a bank holiday in Ireland while the whole island was still under British rule. It was instituted by the 1871 United Kingdom Bank Holidays Act, which also designated Easter Monday, Whit Monday, and St. Stephen’s Day as bank holidays. Good Friday and Christmas were not added until 1939 because it was not at first considered necessary, given their already-established status. St. Patrick’s Day was added to the list of Irish bank holidays in 1903. Many Irish take the opportunity that the August Bank Holiday provides to go on short in-Ireland vacations or to travel abroad. There are also many sports events going on this day, particularly horse races, and many get out to walk, bicycle, or otherwise get some fresh air and good exercise. Attending cultural events are a second major activity on August Holiday. Expect there to be art displays, music festivals, small local fairs, and agricultural exhibits. You will find that not only banks, but also post offices, and many other businesses and public institutions shut down for the long weekend. However, there are usually plenty of shops still open, and pubs are open on all occasions in Ireland. Even what is open, however, will generally be open for fewer hours, and public transportation schedules will be affected. Should you travel the Republic of Ireland during the August Holiday, some ideas on what to do include: Be aware that many are traveling to and from Ireland during August Holiday Weekend, so be sure to book your flight and accommodations well in advance.

IE GB
📅 holiday Dec 25

Christmas Holiday

Christmas in Samoa is celebrated with a public holiday every 25 December, as it is in a majority of countries around the world. This Christian festivity commemorates the birth of Jesus, and is part of a 22-28 day season in the Christian calendar known as Advent. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. Samoa is a predominantly Christian nation and one of the few in the world that calls itself a Christian Nation in its own constitution. Unsurprisingly, then, Christmas Day is a major holiday in this South Pacific island country. Attending church on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve is traditional in Samoa. There are a wide range of denominations present, including Congregationalist, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Charismatic, and others. But all of them celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, who came into the world to save sinners. At church, at home, or on the street, you will likely be told to have a “fiafia” Christmas, the Samoan word for “merry”. You may see some people dancing for Christmas too. Traditional dances like the “siva” and “sasa” are a part of the “fa’asamoa”, meaning the Samoan way of life. Christmas is deemed the perfect time to combine Christianity with a Samoan traditional culture that is over 3,000 years old.

WS GB AU +35
📅 holiday Apr 6

Easter Monday

Easter is regarded as the most important holy day by Christians, and in Réunion it is celebrated with a holiday on Easter Monday. The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar, such that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Réunion, as an overseas department of France, celebrates mostly the same holidays as does mainland France, including Easter Monday. Also, the majority of the population is Christian and would want to observe Easter anyway. Réunion is a major destination for tourists, including during Easter Week, and the locals are quick to be festive this time of year too. Easter egg painting and egg hunts, midnight masses, large family feasts, and plenty of boisterous parties mark the season. Many take the opportunity around Eastertime to hike up to the rim of the island’s active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. Others go mountain biking, visit the beach, go whale or dolphin watching, or see the abundant and diverse sea life at the Réunion Aquarium.

RE SK CZ +93
📅 holiday Apr 3

Good Friday

Easter is regarded as the most important of holy days by Christians, and in Tonga it is celebrated with two holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday. The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar, such that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Easter is a festive, but somewhat low-key time of year in Tonga. People are off work and out of school for a while, and they are glad to catch up with family and friends. The large majority of the population in Tonga follows Christianity, though there is a very diverse mix of denominations. Many will attend a special church service and program for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, late on Holy Saturday, or early on Easter Sunday. Most people use Easter Monday as a time to relax and prepare to get back into their ordinary routine next day. It isn’t surprising that Tonga’s sunny, sandy beaches and crystal-blue waters are crowded on Easter Weekend. But less obvious activities many engage in include picnics and sports.

TO SB TC +98