In 2016, a law was enacted to regulate store opening hours during public holidays in the Czech Republic. This law mandates that retail stores larger than 200 square meters must close on public holidays. However, this regulation does not apply to all public holidays. Specifically, stores are allowed to remain open on the upcoming public holidays of July 5 and 6, as the restriction does not apply to these dates.
The first of these holidays, July 5, commemorates the Day of Slavic Missionaries Cyril and Methodius. These missionaries from Thessalonica were apostles to the Slavs, who laid the foundations of Slavic Orthodoxy in the 9th century. The following day, July 6, is marked as the Day of the Burning of Master Jan Hus, an influential theologian, preacher, and church reformer. His teachings led to the Hussite movement and initiated significant reforms within the church of that time. Jan Hus was burned at the stake in Constance on July 6, 1415.
This year, the holidays fall on Fridays and Saturdays, providing most workers an extended weekend. Many people plan to take advantage of this time off to relax, travel, or spend time with family and friends.
Despite the public holidays, the law does not require stores to close on July 5 and 6. Therefore, consumers can rest assured that they will be able to shop without any issues on these days. It is advisable, however, to check the specific opening hours of individual stores, as some smaller specialized shops that typically open on Saturday mornings might choose to close due to the holiday.
To avoid inconvenience, shoppers should verify store hours on the retailers’ websites or by contacting them directly. While the larger retail chains will likely remain open, smaller local shops may have different holiday-hours policies.
In summary, the upcoming public holidays on July 5 and 6 will not impact store opening hours significantly, allowing consumers to shop freely. Check the opening hours of your preferred stores in advance to avoid surprises.