Nov 17, 2024
Czech Republic Freedom and Democracy Day 2024
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the Czech Republic’s Freedom and Democracy Day! On this day in 1939 and 1989, two historic student-led protests sparked country-wide change.
In 1939 students led a nationwide protest against Nazi occupation, and again in 1989, they led a powerful march against communist rule. Known as the start of the Velvet Revolution (or Gentle Revolution), this peaceful protest and the immense public pressure led to democratic reforms and the downfall of communism in Czechoslovakia. Protesters jingled their keys to symbolize the unlocking of a democratic future, a practice that is still observed on Freedom and Democracy Day.
To celebrate the nation’s journey to democracy, people attend concerts and speeches, lay wreaths at memorials, or light candles for those who made sacrifices for the country. It is also common to see people dressed up in blue, white, and red, waving the nation’s flag, like the one in today’s Doodle.
Happy Freedom and Democracy Day, Czech Republic!
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