Saint Wenceslas Day

Saint Wenceslas Day Quick Facts - CZ

AKA NameDen české státnosti
Hashtags#Wenceslas, #BorderCrossings
2023 Date28 September 2023
2024 Date28 September 2024
Saint Wenceslas Day (Czech Statehood Day)

Saint Wenceslas Day History

Czech Statehood Day, also known as St. Wenceslas Day commemorates the assassination of Duke Vaclav Wenceslas of Bohemia. Wenceslas is best known for having spread Christianity throughout the nation and played a monumental role in establishing Prague as a centre of trade and commerce in Central Europe. On 28 September in the 10th century, Wenceslas was killed by his brother Boleslav. Following his death, he was canonised as a saint. Saint Wenceslas is the patron saint of Bohemia and Czech lands.

Czech Statehood Day is celebrated annually on 28 September as a public holiday throughout the country.

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Saint Wenceslas Day Facts & Quotes

  • Wenceslas was killed by his brother who was upset that he was no longer heir to the throne since Wenceslas had had a son.
  • Wenceslas' brother and a group of noble Czech dissenters invited Wenceslas to a festival. He would never arrive as he was trapped and killed on route.
  • Following his brother's murder, Boleslav (Wenceslas's Brother) assumed power and went on to murder all of Wenceslas' supporters.
  • Wenceslas was a Czech prince, a descendant of the first documented Bohemian prince, Borivoj I. Wenceslas. When his father Prince Vratislav I died, his mother ruled for several years until Wenceslas came of age.
  • Good King Wenceslas looked out
    On the feast of Stephen
    When the snow lay round about
    Deep and crisp and even
    Brightly shone the moon that night
    Though the frost was cruel
    When a poor man came in sight
    Gath'ring winter fuel
    - Christmas Carol Good King Wenceslas - by John Mason Neale

Saint Wenceslas Day Top Events and Things to Do

  • Attend the Czech president's award ceremony in which he will distribute awards to deserving Czechs who have contributed to statehood. The ceremony takes place at the Prague Castle in the nation's capital.
  • Visit the Statue of St. Wenceslas at the Prague Castle and the Vaclav Square in the Czech capital. It is common to place a wreath by his statue to commemorate him on this day
  • Participate in the Pilgrimage that takes place at Stara Boleslav, the site of St Wenceslas' murder. Every year this pilgrimage takes place with a holy mass and the transport of the saints remains to the site.
  • Spread awareness on social media for the day by using hastags #StWenceslasDay, #CzechStatehoodDay and #Wenceslas.
  • Read a book about St Wenceslas in order to better understand his life and role in the country. Some of our suggestions are: A Story of Saint Wenceslaus and The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Wenceslas.

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