Independent Czechoslovak State Day speech template (Czechia)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
Independent Czechoslovak State Day is a public holiday in Czechia on 28 October. It marks the proclamation of independent Czechoslovakia in Prague in 1918, as Austria-Hungary collapsed at the end of the First World War. Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk became the state's first president. The day is marked with wreath-laying at the National Monument on Vítkov Hill in Prague, and the President of the Republic presents state decorations at Prague Castle.
- Date
- October 28
- Next dates
- Wednesday 28 October 2026
Thursday 28 October 2027
Saturday 28 October 2028 - Country
- Czechia
- Tone
- Celebratory
- Typical events
- Embassy receptions, school assemblies before the holiday, municipal ceremonies, Czech and Slovak associations abroad and company award evenings on 28 October.
- Length
- 162 spoken words · about 1 min at 130 words a minute · 4 cue cards
The Independent Czechoslovak State Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 4 cards, about 1 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- VÍTEJTE, WELCOME1 / 4
Good evening, and welcome. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organisation} it's a pleasure to celebrate the founding of Czechoslovakia with you. Tonight is about history, but it is also about people, and later we will honour one of our own. - A NEW STATE IN PRAGUE2 / 4
On 28 October 1918, independent Czechoslovakia was proclaimed in Prague, as the old empire fell apart at the end of the First World War. Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk became its first president. Czechs and Slovaks later went their separate ways peacefully, yet this date remains part of their shared history. - OUR AWARD3 / 4
Today, the President of the Republic presents state decorations at Prague Castle. In the same spirit, we present our {Award name} to someone who has given a great deal to our community: {Award winner}.
[APPLAUSE – AWARD PRESENTED]
Congratulations. - THE ANTHEM AND A TOAST4 / 4
Please stand for the national anthem, Kde domov můj.
[NATIONAL ANTHEM]
Thank you. Now please raise your glass: to the founders of 1918, to our award winner, and to all of you. Na zdraví, and enjoy the evening.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Czechoslovakia was a shared state. If Slovak guests attend, acknowledge the common history of Czechs and Slovaks warmly, and keep references to the 1993 separation brief and neutral.
- The award card mirrors the state decorations presented at Prague Castle on this day. Prepare a short citation of two or three sentences for your honouree.
- Czechia kept the former Czechoslovak flag after 1993, so white, red and blue decorations suit the evening; display the flag near the lectern.
- Na zdraví, meaning 'to your health', is the usual Czech toast. Practise the pronunciation beforehand or invite a Czech guest to lead it.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: Information Booklet for Foreign Nationals. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
More Czechia speech templates
- Czech Statehood Day · September 28
- Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day · November 17