(source: SME - Marko Erd)
On Thursday, August 29, all shops in Slovakia will be closed, so do your shopping ahead.
The country marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) at the end of August. It is one of the key moments in the country's World War II history, when people rebelled against the Nazi-allied Slovak state and tried to show the world that most of the nation supported the Allies.
The law states that petrol stations, shops at the airport and stations, pharmacies and souvenir shops can be open. Besides, the ban applies to the sale of goods, not services. Cafés and restaurants will be open, too.
Three days later, on Sunday, Slovakia will celebrate Constitution Day. Following a change introduced by the Robert Fico's current government in an attempt to bring millions of euros into the state budget, the day remains a public holiday, but people will still have to work. Shops can be open on this public holiday.
The school year will start the next day, September 2.
Shops will be closed again on Sunday, September 15, when Slovakia marks the Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is a red-letter day. The Virgin Mary is the patron saint of Slovakia.
