Freedom and Democracy Day

Freedom and Democracy Day on November 17th is celebrated in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to commemorate a chain of events that led to the fall of communism. The date honors two key moments: the 1939 Nazi suppression of student protests, which resulted in the closure of universities and execution of leaders, and the 1989 anti-communist demonstration that sparked the peaceful Velvet Revolution. The day, also known as International Students' Day, is a tribute to the role of students in the struggle for freedom and democracy.