October 28 is Independent Czechoslovak State Day, a date that celebrates the formation of the sovereign state of Czechoslovakia after the first World War, when the country officially gained independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
While Czechoslovakia no longer exists – the Czech Republic and Slovakia peacefully separated in 1993 after 75 years together – October 28 is still an important date and a national holiday in both countries.
October 28, 2018 is an especially important date: it marks exactly 100 years since Czechoslovakia was formed back in 1918.
To celebrate the centennial, events throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia – and the rest of the world – have occurred all October long, with Czech embassies and cultural centers in countries across the globe marking the anniversary.
In Prague, the festivities officially kicked off last month with the unveiling of the city’s famed Astronomical Clock, which had undergone an extensive renovation process throughout most of 2018.
And today, October 28, Prague’s newly-restored National Museum will partially re-open to the public with a special Czech-Slovak / Slovak-Czech exhibition that charts the history of both countries. For the past seven years, the National Museum has been closed to the public.
One of the largest events celebrating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia will be an extensive military parade and air show billed as the largest in central and eastern Europe.
2,000 soldiers will take part in the parade, which will feature 200 pieces of Czech military equipment. The parade will start at 14:00 down Prague 6’s extensive Evropská street, and airspace over Václav Havel Airport will be closed for one hour.
Happy birthday, Czech and Slovak Republics (née Czechoslovakia)!