June 5th is a holiday in Switzerland. Official holidays and weekends in Switzerland

Every year, Switzerland hosts a great variety of business, cultural and sporting events. Most of them are known far beyond the borders of the country. Alas, we cannot mention all the holidays taking place in this beautiful country, but we will still dwell on some.

National holidays in Switzerland
January 1 - New Year.
January 2 is Berthold's Day (Duke Berthold V is the founder of Bern).
March 28 - April 22 - Good Friday.
April 5 - April 25 (the first Sunday and Monday after the vernal equinox) - Easter and Easter Monday.
May 8 - June 13 - Ascension.
May 18-19 - Trinity and Spiritual Day.
June 11 - Feast of Corpus Christi.
August 1-2 - Day of the Swiss Confederation.
November 1 - All Saints' Day (Allerheiligen, Toussaint, Ognissanti).
December 25 - Christmas.
Basically, on major holidays most shops are closed, take this into account when planning your tourist route.

Carnivals in Switzerland
Although the carnivals here are not as spectacular as in Brazil, they can still bring a lot of joy to tourists. Also a surprise awaits those who believe that the Swiss are conservative and reserved.

Carnival in Basel
Perhaps this is the oldest carnival in Europe. It begins very characteristically - at 4 am the whole city wakes up to the howling of pipes and the pounding of drums. After this, Egyptian darkness sets in - the electric lighting is turned off for a few minutes and suddenly the glow of thousands of lanterns emerges from the darkness. The carnival begins with a procession with lanterns.

The next day the main event takes place - a serpentine shootout, a carnival train, and various comic competitions. Afterwards, there is a children's carnival and a concert where you can hear medieval and modern hits on wind instruments.
The carnival ends after the symbolic extinguishing of the lanterns.

Carnival in Lucerne
The second largest carnival in the country. It is traditionally timed to mark the end of winter. It is often called Swiss Maslenitsa.

The Alfalfa Carnival begins on Fat Thursday. At five in the morning a cannon shot is heard on the lake, which signals that you can start having fun. And after a man in a special suit comes out of the town hall, the city begins to “drown” in fun and joy.

40 official and the same number of unofficial groups will take part in the parade, and mimes, acrobats, and fire swallowers will entertain spectators throughout the festival.

Music festivals in Switzerland

Montreux Jazz Festival
This event has been held since July 1967. Although the festival was originally conceived as a jazz festival, since 1970 bluesmen and rock performers have performed here.

About 200 thousand people come to Switzerland every year just to attend this holiday of the soul. In parks, on the streets, in cafeterias you can hear the music of beginner (and not only beginner) bands.
During the festival, a special musical train even runs between the cities of Gstaad and Rocher-de-Nay. And from the Montreux pier you can go on a small musical cruise.

Verbier Music Festival
The international music festival, taking place in late July - early August, brings together young musical groups and even small orchestras under its banners. Over the course of 17 days, visitors can attend many free jazz concerts.

Gourmet Festival in St. Moritz
The annual gastronomic festival attracts venerable chefs from all over the world. For five days, restaurant kitchens are transformed from ordinary premises into temples of gluttony.
But it would be foolish to think that culinary experts come here only to show off their skills - the holiday is an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss the latest trends in world cuisines.

And festival guests and ordinary tourists will enjoy a series of themed lunches, gala dinners, and tastings of the best wines. The festival ends with a traditional open-air cooking competition.

Escalade
In 1602, the troops of the Catholic Duke tried to storm the Calvinist walls of Geneva, but the city's inhabitants managed to fend off the vile night attack of Emmanuel of Savoy. According to legend, Mother Royom played not the last role in the defense of the city; this venerable matron and mother of 14 children, standing on the fortress walls, poured hot soup on the advancing enemy troops.

In our time, this holiday symbolizes the solidarity of city citizens in the face of an external enemy. The escalade is quite fun - a torchlight procession takes place on the streets of the city, music sounds, residents and guests of the city dress up in carnival costumes and have fun around the huge bonfires that are lit on Cours Saint-Pierre Square. Traditional festival treats include hot vegetable soup, chocolate cauldrons, and mulled wine.

Advent
Four weeks before Christmas comes the time of Advent. This is a time of reflection on the life of Christ, but in the bustle of Christmas markets, some forget about the original meaning of these Advents. To make the anticipation of the holiday more enjoyable, children are given an Advent calendar with 24 windows, behind which surprises are hidden. Often the calendar depicts motifs of scenes associated with Christmas. From December 1st to December 24th, children open one window every day. Along with Advent calendars, which can also consist of a series of numbered small gifts, Advent wreaths with four candles are characteristic of the pre-Christmas time. The first candle is lit during the first Advent (the first Sunday before Christmas), on the second Advent two candles are lit, on the third - three, and shortly before Christmas all four candles are lit on this wreath.

St. Nicolas day
On December 6, the most favorite children's holiday is celebrated in the German part of Switzerland - St. Nicholas Day (in the Swiss dialect "Samichlaus"). Samichlaus wears a red hooded coat, has a long white beard, and is usually accompanied by Schmutzli. On the evening of December 6, Samichlaus and Schmutzli come to visit the children, if, of course, the parents took care of this in advance and they were invited. They also visit schools and kindergartens, and bring with them a large bag full of nuts, tangerines, cookies and other sweets. For this meeting, children prepare special poems about Samichlaus, which they recite and sing for Samichlaus for a reward. Samichlaus and Schmutzli also carry rods with which they intend to punish bad children, which never actually happens. In the past, naughty children were often threatened that Samichlaus would take them in his sack into the forest if they did not obey. Today Samichlaus is a kind grandfather for all children who brings gifts. In the Italian part of Switzerland in the canton of Ticino, on the eve of Epiphany, a female Saint Nicholas appears - the old woman Befana (distorted from Epifania), and in French-speaking Switzerland - the old woman Chauche (Chauche-vieille). On the evening of December 5 in Ticino, children in anticipation of gifts hang out socks, which the next day they will find filled with either sweets (for obedient children) or pieces of coal (for naughty children).

Christmas
Christmas is the most important church and at the same time family holiday, which is widely celebrated throughout Switzerland. On this occasion, they decorate the Christmas tree, prepare a festive dinner with family or friends, exchange gifts, and in some families they sing Christmas songs and read Christmas Bible stories aloud. In many Christian families, the evening of December 24 is considered a family holiday. For children, the most important moment of this holiday - along with sharing dinner and singing Christmas songs - is the long-awaited exchange of gifts. An integral attribute of this holiday is a Christmas tree decorated with glass balls and wax candles (electric candles did not “take root” in Switzerland). After the celebration in the family circle in many regions there is a custom of jointly attending Christmas mass (in Catholic churches) or holiday service (in Protestant churches). On Christmas Eve in church you can meet many people who do not attend church on ordinary days.

Epiphany
On January 6, Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Magi (Three Kings) is celebrated. It is associated with the worship of the newborn Jesus by the three wise men. Of particular importance is the “star of Bethlehem”, which showed the way to the three wise men. In this regard, in many regions of Switzerland (in some even before Christmas), processions of mummers chanting the three kings take place. Each of the singers has with him the “Star of Bethlehem”, and three are necessarily dressed as the Three Magi.

Whip Contest
Some other winter holidays do not have any religious background. So, in the city of Schwyz there is a competition with a whip. Spectators can also take part in the carnival procession of the “Japanese”. These are ordinary people dressed in Japanese clothes. The procession is accompanied by three horsemen with musicians throwing sweets into the crowd of spectators.

Sylvesterklaus
In the rural areas near Urnasch in the Appenzell Ausserrhoden semi-canton, the tradition of celebrating the New Year with masks has been preserved. Silvesterklaus wear masks with female or male faces, hang them on the chest and back, and put fluffy headdresses on their heads. These are the so-called “beautiful” Clauses. There are also ugly Klauses with demonic masks, with horns on their heads; they are dressed in rough clothes made of hides and branches. You can also meet “forest” Claus in costumes made of branches and leaves.

"Vogelgriff" in Little Basel
The population of Little Basel, located on the right bank of the Rhine and known for its rivalry with the rich quarters of the city of Basel, lying on the left bank of the Rhine, celebrate their own holiday called "Vogelgriff" (literally "Vulture Bird"). The date of the festival varies according to a three-year cycle between January 13th, 20th and 27th. Three heraldic figures: a vulture bird, a savage and a lion (in the dialect “Vogel Gryff”, “Wild Maa” and “Leu”) - walk through the streets of the city, dancing. They are accompanied by 3 drummers, 3 standard bearers and 4 clowns, who beg for money for the “poor” Little Basel. Although the custom is called "Vogelgriff", it begins the moment the savage arrives on a raft made of two boats. At the same time, he always stands with his back to the left bank of the Rhine, symbolically expressing the contempt of the residents of Little Basel for the rich part of the city, located on the right bank.

Other winter customs
In the Upper Engadine in the canton of Graubünden there is a curious custom called Schlitteda. It takes place in January or February and features a festive horse-drawn sleigh ride. This tradition reminds us that previously horses harnessed to sleighs were the only means of transport in winter. A young girl dressed in a traditional folk costume sits on the sleigh, while a man in a tailcoat and top hat drives the cart from behind.

Easter
Easter is an ancient holiday that was celebrated before the Nativity of Christ. The etymology of the word "Easter" (in German Ostern) is unknown; it is believed that it is associated with the spring festival, which was celebrated in honor of the Goddess of Fertility Ostara. Hence the Easter bunnies and eggs, which were considered symbols of fertility. The entire Christian world celebrates Easter as the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As throughout the world, Easter in Switzerland is associated with Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies. The original meaning of this holiday, unfortunately, is gradually being forgotten; For people, first of all, this holiday means a long weekend - starting from Good Friday and ending with Easter Monday (the second day after Easter).
Eggs and hares
Already a month before Easter, shop windows and supermarket shelves are decorated with chocolate bunnies, colorful eggs and Easter cakes, inviting not only children but also adults to enjoy. The first day of Easter begins in many places with the search for Easter eggs, which were magically hidden by the Easter Bunny at night.
In Zurich there is an old traditional game of twenty. The rules are very simple: children hand over a colored Easter egg to adults, who in turn must try to toss a coin of 20 rappen ("twenty") so that it sticks into the egg. If a coin falls on the floor, then it belongs to the child, and so does the egg. If the “twenty” sticks into the egg, then the adult takes it along with the coin. The game allows children to replenish their pocket money, but from time to time they have to part with an egg.
Easter traditions
Along with the well-known tradition of looking for Easter eggs in the country, there are also special customs that are known only in certain regions:
- In Mendrisio, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, an Easter procession is held every year during Holy Week. On Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, biblical scenes about the suffering of Christ are performed during the Easter procession.
- In the western part of Switzerland in the town of Romont, on Good Friday, mourners dressed all in black carry around the city on bright red pillows the instruments of torture of Christ and the handkerchief with which Saint Veronica wiped the sweat from the forehead of Christ, who carried the cross on his shoulders. The procession of mourners is accompanied by chants and prayers.
- In the town of Nyon, located near Geneva, during Holy Week, following an old German custom, wells are covered with garlands decorated with flowers, bows and colorful Easter eggs.
- In some villages in the canton of Wallis, the distribution of bread, cheese and wine is one of the old Easter traditions.

Spring holidays
The beginning of spring in Zurich is usually celebrated with a guild parade (Sechseläuten), which in most cases falls on the third Sunday or Monday of April (if Easter falls at this time, the holiday is postponed by one week). In fact, the spring parade could be held in March, but due to the unstable weather, it was decided to celebrate in April.
The tradition of the holiday dates back to 1818, when members of the very first guild (trade union) held a night parade through the city on horseback and accompanied by music. Other guilds took up this initiative, and in 1820 the first measures were taken to organize the procession. In 1839, the first general parade of the city's guilds took place. The holiday owes its name to the rules of the work schedule: in winter the working day was short due to poor lighting in the premises, but in the spring one had to work until six o’clock in the evening until the bells rang, symbolizing the end of the working day (sechs = six, läuten = to ring). On Sunday, in anticipation of the Sechseläuten holiday, a costumed procession of children takes place. About 2,000 children dressed in historical costumes and Swiss national clothes march through the streets of Zurich. Unlike adults, any child can take part in the children's procession, regardless of community, canton and country. On Monday there is usually a guild parade. Representatives of the various guilds symbolize a narrow circle of professionals, although nowadays fewer and fewer guild members actually practice the craft whose guild they represent. The members of the guilds, exclusively male, come from old noble families of Zurich, closely connected with the history of the city. The right to participate in this procession is granted only to invited persons, for example, representatives of the honorary canton (every year one of the cantons is invited in turn) and other guests of honor. Since 1862, the snowman-like effigy “Böögg” has been burned at the end of the celebration. Exactly at 6 o'clock in the evening, a scarecrow stuffed with fireworks, whose height is about three meters and weighs about 80 kg, is set on fire. The moment Boyog's head explodes marks the "official" end of winter. It is believed that the faster this happens, the longer and hotter the summer will be. In many alpine regions, the return of livestock from summer pastures is widely celebrated in September. Cows and bulls decorated with flower wreaths march in a solemn procession through the entire village to the enthusiastic exclamations of those greeting them. But not only the cows are decorated with flowers, the shepherds are also dressed in festive outfits.

Traditional cheese sharing (Chästeilet)
At the end of the summer grazing season, cheese made from the milk of cows grazing in the Alpine meadows is traditionally shared. This event is called "Chästeilet" in Bernese dialect. The most famous “cheese sharing” takes place at the end of September in the Justistal valley behind Lake Thun. The circles of cheese are stacked and divided among the hosts. These stacks are combined so that they contain cheeses of different sizes and qualities. After this, the lot decides who will get which circle of cheese. Each owner receives as much cheese as his cows gave milk that season.

Livestock Fair
After the cows return from the mountain pastures, livestock fairs are organized, where proud peasants and farmers present their cows. Usually such fairs are holidays for local residents and guests.

Autumn is a traditional time for harvest and thanksgiving. In the old days, livestock and poultry were sold in the fall to pay off workers hired for the summer. Autumn was also considered the most suitable time for shopping and entertainment. For these purposes, bazaars with snack bars and taverns, dances and shows were organized.

Benichon Holiday
In some villages in the canton of Friborg, the Feast of Benichon (Bénichon de la montagne) or Thanksgiving Day (bénir = to bless) is widely celebrated. On this day, people feast at rich tables laden with delicacies and dishes, have fun, dance and organize various competitions. In the village of Charmet in the Gruyere region, in connection with the Benichon holiday, a hay wagon race is traditionally held. Each team consists of five people. One team member sits in the cart, and the rest must roll or push it six times around the village. The one who arrives the fastest wins.

Chestnut fairs
The new chestnut harvest is widely celebrated in some towns and villages in the cantons of Ticino and Vallis. Here, in former times, ripened chestnuts were a staple food for the poor. The holiday usually takes place in the form of a fair. Here you can buy all kinds of chestnut delicacies and taste freshly roasted nuts.

Festival of the Alpine Shepherds Traditional harvest thanksgiving days also take place in other regions of Switzerland. In Stans, the main administrative center of the canton of Nidwalden, the Alpine Shepherds' Festival (Älperchilbi) is celebrated. Traditionally, it begins with a sacred service in the church, where shepherds and pasture owners thank God for the gifts of the harvest. After the service, everyone heads to the town square, where everyone is offered an aperitif. Leshy (or “butzi”), dressed in clothes made of skins and moss with a stick in their hands, chase the children and throw sweets after them. At the end of the holiday there is a colorful procession of decorated carriages and carts. Älperchilbi takes place on the third Sunday in October. Similar holidays are celebrated in other regions of Central Switzerland.

Decapitation of a goose
A custom unique in nature can be seen in the small town of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne. This real spectacle is called "Beheading of a goose" (Gansabhauet). On November 11, St. Martin's Day, a platform is built in the city center where a dead goose is hung. Anyone can try to behead the goose. The catch is that, firstly, the swords are dull, and secondly, all participants are blindfolded, and a huge mask in the shape of the sun is worn on their face. The red cape is also part of the costume. The task is not easy, because only one attempt is offered! The winner gets the goose itself.

Bernese Onion Market
On the fourth Monday of November, Bern hosts the famous onion market (Zibelemärit), which to this day is very popular and loved by residents and guests of the city. Traditionally, visitors throw confetti and children hit passersby on the heads with squeaking plastic hammers.

Wine Festival
In the fall, the end of the grape harvest is widely celebrated in the wine-growing regions of the country. At the end of September, the canton of Neuchâtel celebrates three days in a row (Fête des vendanges). The end of the holiday is a solemn procession of carriages decorated with flowers.

Not as often as in Neuchâtel, about once every 25 years, a national festival of winemakers (Fête des Vignerons) is held in the town of Vevey on Lake Geneva. Preparations for this famous and most significant holiday in Switzerland last for several years. The Fête des Vignerons was last held in 1999.

Escalade
Switzerland has a number of holidays associated with historical events. The most famous of them is certainly the Escalade in Geneva. It is celebrated in honor of the victory of the Genevans over the army of the Duke of Savoy on the night of December 11-12, 1602. The holiday takes place in early December, on the weekend closest to the memorable date. The name of the holiday comes from the French word escalade, meaning “storming a fortress using ladders.” The main character of the holiday is Mother Royom, who, according to legend, poured a cauldron of hot soup on the heads of Savoyard soldiers who were climbing the walls of the city. In memory of this act, you must eat a cup of vegetable soup and taste a chocolate cauldron filled with marzipan vegetables. There is a custom of breaking a chocolate cauldron with the words: “Let all enemies of the Republic die in the same way!” Children dress up in costumes and go to restaurants and cafes, singing songs in honor of the historical event, for which, of course, they receive monetary rewards from the grateful public.

In memory of famous battles
Most of the most important battles, which played a decisive role in establishing the independence of the members of the young Swiss Confederation, are widely celebrated by the people.

In the cantons of Schwyz and Zug, every year on November 15, the Confederate victory in the Battle of Morgarten (1315) is celebrated with a solemn procession and a welcoming speech.

In memory of the Battle of Sempach, which took place in 1386 in the town of Sempach near Lucerne, a solemn procession takes place every year at the beginning of July. Participants in the procession, dressed in military uniforms of the time and armed with pikes, march to the battle site.

Every year on the first Thursday of April, the inhabitants of the canton of Glarus celebrate the victory in the Battle of Näfels in 1388. In memory of this event, the inhabitants gather in Näfels and go to the battle site in a solemn procession (Näfelser Fahrt), consisting of musicians, drummers, soldiers, representatives Catholic and Protestant churches. The procession stops several times to perform various ceremonies, one of which solemnly reads out the names of the soldiers who died in this battle.

"A trip with a pot of millet porridge" (Hirsebreifahrt)
Once every 10 years, since 1976, a group of people sets off from Zurich with a pot of hot millet porridge to the French city of Strasbourg. This trip is made in memory of the attempt of the Zurich people in 1576 to convince the citizens of Strasbourg of the benefits of an alliance between the two cities. To prove that both cities lie close to each other and in case of danger they can quickly come to the rescue, the Zurich residents found a very unusual way: early in the morning they set sail from Zurich on a ship, taking with them a pot of hot millet porridge. Along the Limmat and the Rhine they reached Strasbourg in the evening, and the porridge, according to legend, was still hot enough to burn their lips. Over the past 400 years, a large number of dams and locks have been built on both rivers, and today such a journey takes more than one day. Hirsebreifahrt is organized by members of the Shipbuilders' and Boatmen's Guild, as well as private organizations of the city of Zurich.

Unspunnen Festival
The Unspunnen holiday was organized in 1805 to preserve ancient Alpine customs, on the one hand, and, on the other, to reconcile the population of the Bernese Oberland with the authorities of the city of Bern. During the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803), the territory of the Bernese Oberland briefly became an independent canton, but soon after the fall of the republic it was again subordinated to Bern. Residents of the Bernese Oberland were unhappy with this state of affairs. To somehow smooth out the outrage, the Unspunnen holiday came to the rescue. The name of the holiday comes from the Unspunnen Castle near Interlaken, in the vicinity of which it first took place. The success was huge. Along with the common people, the celebration was attended by aristocrats from all over Europe, whom the Berne authorities invited as guests. Thousands of spectators watched wrestling competitions, throwing huge boulders, and enjoyed yodeling and playing the alpine horn. The holiday was held for the second time in 1808, and for the third time in 1905. Starting from the second half of the 20th century. it takes place every 12 years. The 200th anniversary of the holiday, which was supposed to take place in 2005, had to be postponed by a year due to severe flooding in Switzerland. Over time, the Unspunnen holiday has changed its character. Today, an important part of the holiday is the folk costume festival, however, as before, the highlight of the program remains Schwingen (Swiss national wrestling) and throwing a cobblestone weighing 83.5 kg.

Founding Day of the Confederacy
On August 1, Switzerland celebrates its National Day - the founding day of the Confederation. It was officially introduced in 1891, the year of the 600th anniversary of the formation of the Swiss Confederation. Unlike church holidays, August 1 was a long working day in most cantons. It was only in 1994 that it was declared an official non-working day. An important memorable place directly related to this day is the forest clearing of Rütli on the shore of Lake Vierwaldstät, where in 1291 representatives of three cantons - Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden - gathered and swore an oath with united forces to defend themselves against attacks from external enemies (“Oath on Rütli "). This oath is considered the main document that initiated the formation of the Swiss Confederation. The official part of the celebration takes place in the Rütli clearing, where every year the president of the country makes a solemn speech. But not only in this historical clearing is a speech heard in connection with the national holiday; throughout the country, representatives of political parties and other officials make celebratory speeches on this occasion. On August 1, many children and adults rejoice in anticipation of fireworks, lamps and bonfires on the tops of the mountains, which, along with solemn speeches, are attributes of the holiday. The tradition of lighting bonfires on mountain tops dates back to the Middle Ages, when a chain of guard hills was built along the territorial borders, on the tops of which signal bonfires were lit when an enemy approached. According to legend, these bonfires, burning on the mountains between Lake Geneva and Lake Biel, scared off the “barbarians” who made their way into this territory. Seeing the reflections on the shimmering surface of the water, they thought that they were at the edge of the Earth and that further the road went straight to Heaven.

Full of different holidays and events. In this country, they really love to have fun and organize huge, amazing festivals. Available on national and regional holidays. Moreover, in some regions of the country, holidays in other areas may not be welcomed at all (mainly for religious dates). Naturally, the Swiss also celebrate famous world days: Easter, New Year, March 8th. Local residents add their own “zest” to them, which gives a lot of bright impressions.

National holidays in Switzerland

In Switzerland there are not as many public holidays as there are religious ones. Traditionally, they are celebrated in a large family circle or a group of friends. On such days, it is customary to give each other symbolic gifts. All over the country on holidays they give a day off, there is noisy fun and a joyful atmosphere reigns. Swiss national holidays include:

• New Year - January 1;
• Berthold's Founder's Day - January 2;
• Good Friday - from March 28 to April 22 (a different date each year);
• Ascension - from May 8 to June 13;
• Trinity – May 18;
• Spirit Day – May 19;
• Feast of Corpus Christi – June 11;
• Swiss Confederation Day - August 1-2;
• All Saints' Day - November 1;
• Christmas – December 25th.

Usually on holidays in all cities of Switzerland, especially in such large ones as, and, bright events are held (concerts, creative competitions, fairs, etc.). If you are lucky enough to attend one of them, you will receive a lot of positive emotions and vivid memories.

In Switzerland, public holidays are comparatively more boring than regional ones. The most exciting events in the country take place outside of calendar dates and each region has its own extraordinary celebrations: wonderful festivals, parades, contests and competitions. On such days you will be able to get acquainted with the wonderful flavor of the country and the traditions of the local people. Let's find out what holidays are celebrated in different regions of Switzerland:

1. . This city hosts the most interesting festivals and events. On the second Saturday of August, the annual Street Parade dance festival is celebrated - the most vibrant music competition in the world. The Expovina wine fair is held on the shore in November. The highlight of this event is that it takes place exclusively on board moored ships. On the first weekend of June, the Christopher Street gay pride parade takes place. In November, another vibrant Swiss jazz festival is held. During the event, all spectators are given free cigars and delicious whiskey. One of the oldest holidays in Switzerland, or rather Zurich, is Bullet Shooting Day. Only the younger generation (from 18 to 30 years old) participates in it. During the event, not only sports weapons are used, but also standard army weapons.
2. . In this city, the most interesting is the wine festival (second weekend in May) and the Bol d’Or sailing regatta (in June). These days it turns into a center of fun, where all guests of the country and local residents strive to get to. Another high-profile event is the Geneva Festival. It lasts ten days and ends with the brightest, huge fireworks display. Costume parties are also held in Geneva. One of them is Fete de l’Escalade, which stands out among others for its scale and unusualness (knightly theme). Sports lovers can visit international equestrian competitions in December.
3. . This city became famous for its grandiose Basler Fasnacht carnival - this is the oldest festival in Switzerland (held since the 14th century). It is celebrated from February 26 to 29. This is a really bright, crazy and noisy show that adults and adults love.


4. . The largest parties and competitions in Europe take place on its shores. A grand one is held in July. It attracts musicians not only of jazz, but also of blues, country, etc. At the end of June, this holiday is transferred to another city - Nyon. It is where the best masters of music are identified. At the end of January, Lausanne hosts one of the most prestigious and vibrant competitions in the world - the Prix de Lausanne. All the best ballet dancers take part in it, and the winner receives world fame and worthy prizes.

National holiday - Confederation Day. St. Day is also especially revered. Berthold, Vintage Day, Christmas and New Year.
St. Berthold's Day (Bern's Day) January 2
Valentine's Day February 14
Easter
April Fool's Day
Labor Day May 1st
Mother's Day May 9
Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ June 3
Swiss Confederation Day August 1st
Swiss grape harvest festival last Friday in September
Halloween October 31st
Catholic St. Nicholas Day December 6
Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary December 8
Feast of the Escalades (Geneva Day) December 11
Swiss Flag Day December 12th
Christmas December 25

St. Berthold's Day in Switzerland

The second of January is the day of the founder of the city of Bern, Duke Berthold the Fifth, who named the new city after the first animal he would kill on his hunt. This animal ended up being a bear.

Later, the bear became an inseparable symbol of the city of Bern, and the inhabitants of the city began to be called bears and ascribed to them character traits similar to the image of this predator. Moreover, this day has now become an official holiday in other cantons of Switzerland.

Mother's Day in Switzerland

Mother's Day in Switzerland was invented, oddly enough, not by mothers or their children, but by enterprising confectioners and florists. Thus, these holiday businessmen get rich on every third Sunday in May, on this day all of Switzerland buys cakes and sweets, buys armfuls of flowers and goes to beautiful restaurants. But the Swiss railways are suffering losses; on this day, they transport passengers on panoramic trains to restaurants for free, and give pots of edelweiss to all women who look like mothers.

Swiss Confederation Day

Swiss Independence Day is widely celebrated throughout the country on the first of August; this day has become an official holiday since 1994. It all started back in 1291, when the three forest cantons of Unterwalden, Uri and Schwyz announced an alliance in the fight against the Roman Empire. Later, other cantons joined this union, and the official formation of Switzerland took place in 1648.

A festive attribute of the first of August are bonfires on the tops of mountains, which have long been lit when barbarians appeared, and maybe even soldiers of the Roman legions, who, foolishly, might have thought that the glare on the water surface meant that this was already the end of the world and it was not worth going further, so as not to fall for the Earth.

Halloween - All Saints' Day (Samhain) in Switzerland

In Switzerland, this holiday is not as popular as, say, in the USA or Great Britain, but many Swiss farmers organize real competitions to see who can grow the biggest pumpkin.

St. Nicholas Day in Switzerland

This day is a rehearsal for Christmas, at night from the fifth to the sixth of November there are festive marches through the streets of cities, a choir in white clothes sings about good deeds, and choristers in black clothes sing about bad deeds, the holiday ends with the solemn ringing of all the bells. Another attribute of the holiday is a home-baked gingerbread man, which is then carefully packaged and given to family and friends.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Switzerland

Services on this occasion are held in Switzerland on December 8th in all churches, starting in 1476.

Swiss Flag Day

This holiday, of course, is not so widely celebrated, but deserves mention. The flag was adopted on December 12, 1889; a white cross is depicted on a red square canvas. The banner is similar to the coat of arms of one of the cantons of Switzerland, namely Schwyz. The shape of the banner has changed many times over the centuries, its shape was triangular, and there was also a white cross consisting of 5 identical squares. In 2011, the Islamic Swiss called for getting rid of the cross and changing the flag to one with a green stripe.

The flag of the International Committee of the Red Cross is believed to be derived from the Swiss flag; the Red Cross on a white background was declared an official symbol of protection by the 1864 Geneva Convention.

They say that if you take a little Germany, add a solid portion of France and a drop of Italy, you get Switzerland - an amazing multinational country. Perhaps nothing can give a more complete picture of its culture than the holidays. Cheerful, bright, colorful holidays in Switzerland have absorbed all the wealth of traditions, customs and spirit of the hospitable European people.

There is only one national holiday in Switzerland, which is celebrated at the federal level - it is called that, or it is called Confederation Day, and the whole country also celebrates New Year and Christmas, the Ascension of the Lord; in many cantons they celebrate the most important dates of the religious calendar, familiar to all Christians: Easter, Good Friday, Trinity Day, Corpus Christi, Assumption of the Virgin Mary and days dedicated to various saints. Switzerland hosts unusual festivals and fiery carnivals, comparable in scope and grandeur to the Brazilian ones - they have become so famous that tourists from different countries come specifically to take part in them. From this variety of holidays, large and small, where the ancient traditions of Switzerland and modernity are closely intertwined, the culture of Switzerland is woven - rich, original and unique.

Christmas in Switzerland (December 25)

On the night of December 24-25, the most long-awaited and magical holiday of the year comes - Christmas. Even the air seems to be saturated with the expectation of a miracle, and the streets, immersed in garlands and bright lights, give rise to the feeling of a real winter fairy tale. For residents of Switzerland, Christmas is a warm family holiday, when family and friends gather at one table and then go to church for a festive service. The main attribute of Christmas - the spruce - is usually decorated on the very eve, December 24, and in Switzerland it is customary to decorate it not only with toys, but also with wax candles and various delicacies.

Despite the fact that Christmas in Switzerland is a family celebration, quiet and leisurely, tourists come here at this time with great pleasure to plunge into the festive atmosphere. In the Italian canton of Ticino in the city of Locarno, you can visit the Christmas festival - a large skating rink opens here and live concerts are held, Bellinzona is famous for its exhibition of sculptures based on biblical stories about the birth of Christ, Bern can boast of Christmas markets - there are two of them - one on the Shelter Square, and the other - on Collegiate Square near the walls of the Gothic cathedral.

Christmas in Zurich is especially popular among travelers thanks to the largest Christmas market in Europe, which is located in the Hauptbahnhof train station. The counters of many pavilions are filled with Christmas souvenirs and various goodies; you can wander here for hours, choosing gifts for family and friends. The most important decoration of the fair is considered to be a huge spruce tree, strewn from top to bottom with sparkling Swarovski crystals. Another, but very unusual, “singing spruce” is located on Werdmlühleplatz – on a multi-level pedestal decorated with pine branches, children dressed in Santa Claus hats sing Christmas carols.

In the courtyard of the Historical Museum you can go ice skating, children on Christmas days enjoy riding on the magical Marlitram tram, driven by Santa Claus himself, and angels sing songs to the children and tell good fairy tales. But this entertainment is only for kids - tickets for the fairytale tram are not sold to adults. It is worth taking a walk along the main street of the ancient part of the city, Bahnhofstrasse, immersed in the light of thousands of garland lights and unusual vertical lamps imitating the northern lights. The cozy atmosphere is complemented by small wooden tent houses everywhere, where they sell a popular Christmas delicacy - roasted chestnuts; their smell fills the air, adding a special touch of charm to a walk through winter Zurich.

New Year in Switzerland (December 31 - January 1)

Each country has its own New Year traditions, and Switzerland is no exception. How is New Year celebrated in Switzerland? This holiday combines two things: the New Year itself and St. Sylvester's Day, celebrated in honor of Pope Sylvester I. According to legend, in 314 he fought the monster Leviathan and, having defeated him, saved the world from destruction. According to legend, Sylvester died on December 31, and since then, on this day, the people of Switzerland have honored him.

St. Sylvester's Day is no less popular than New Year's, and maybe even more, and the question of local residents: “What are you doing on Sylvester?” means nothing more than plans for New Year's Eve.

Compared to Christmas, the New Year is celebrated less solemnly, but still for many Swiss it is a festive day, which, unlike family Christmas, they spend outside the home, having fun at noisy masquerades. Swiss New Year's carnivals are somewhat reminiscent of Halloween - people dress in costumes and frightening masks depicting unknown monsters and evil spirits, however, on this night you can meet Sylvester Claus and other characters symbolizing the forces of good, waging the eternal struggle against evil.

The largest celebrations take place in large cities, so many tourists who come to Switzerland for the holidays try to celebrate the New Year in Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne or Bern, where fabulous Christmas decorations are preserved, noisy Christmas markets continue, colorful carnivals take place, restaurants and cafes invite for entertainment programs, and the amazing spectacle of fireworks reflected in the frosty surface of the waters of Lakes Zurich, Geneva and Vierwaldstadt amazes with its beauty. New Year's holidays spent in Switzerland will retain for a long time the impressions of touching real magic and a fairy tale.

St. Berthold's Day in Switzerland (January 2)

St. Berthold's Day is considered one of the most important holidays in Switzerland and is celebrated in most cantons. At the same time, Catholics do not have a saint with that name, and, therefore, there is no date for his veneration, but there is a real historical figure who is remembered on this day - Duke Berthold V von Zähringen.

The history of the holiday leads back to antiquity, to events almost a thousand years ago - in those days, the Zähringen family, thanks to its wealth, gained unprecedented influence in Burgundy, and Duke Berthold himself was one of the main contenders for the throne, however, he refused in favor of Philip of Swabia . However, he did not give in disinterestedly - the Duke received huge money for this at that time, increasing his already gigantic fortune, and he even got the nickname Berthold V the Rich. He did not manage his money thoughtlessly, but began the reconstruction of the famous Freiburg Cathedral, built by his grandfather, in order to make it a family tomb, and in 1191, on the banks of the Are River, on the western border of his possessions, he built a fortress in order to protect his lands from enemy raids .

According to legend, the Duke promised to name the village in honor of the first animal he killed while hunting - by chance, it turned out to be a bear (in German, “ber”), and thus the future de facto capital of the confederation, Bern, was born, and the image of the formidable owner of the forests became its official symbol.

If we draw parallels with the history of the Russian state, then the founding of Bern can be compared in significance to the construction of St. Petersburg by Peter I - which is why in Switzerland the day of honoring Duke Berthold is celebrated on a grand scale. The largest events, of course, take place in Bern - residents and guests of the city attend concerts, participate in noisy folk festivals, competitions and tournaments, where children become the main characters. Acorns and nuts are considered an indispensable attribute of St. Berthold's Day - they are collected in the fall and stored until the holiday itself.

Fastnacht Festival in Switzerland (February-March)

Every year in February and early March, the enchanting Fastnacht carnival takes place in the Swiss town of Basel, and it is better not to call this grandiose holiday a carnival among local residents - they insist that this event is special and simply cannot be called anything other than Fastnacht!

The history of the holiday dates back to the 16th century, then there were knightly tournaments and costume processions, but the modern traditions of Fastnacht developed about a century ago.

Fastnacht is translated as “Night of Lent”, the three-day celebration begins on the first Monday after “Ash Wednesday” (the beginning of Lent for Catholics), lasts exactly 72 hours and is clearly regulated with true German pedantry. The carnival people are strictly divided into two categories: direct participants - “cliques” and spectators, and if the role of the latter remains very modest, they, for the most part, can only watch, then the “cliques” are worth talking about separately. “Cliques” are the name given to unique creative unions. To enter such a group, you must meet several requirements: you need to be able to play the drum or flute, know the ancient melodies of marches, have an interesting costume and, most importantly and impossible for a tourist, to be a native resident of Basel for at least the fourth generation. Each “clique” invents costumes for themselves, united by a common theme, and a huge painted lantern, which they then carry above their heads. At this holiday there are also “Einzelmask” - loners who make jokes at passers-by, and special groups of “schnitzel-bangg” wandering around cafes, bars and pubs with simple music and satirical performances - you can make fun of anyone and anything, the main thing is not to it was a shame.

At 4 am on Monday, the usual life of the city gives way to a long holiday, which locals call the best days of the year. With the fourth strike of the city clock, the lights go out, the city plunges into darkness, and spectators hear the music of “clicks” - flutes blare piercingly, drums rumble, and the streets are filled with strange creatures. In some you can guess people, animals, birds or fairy-tale creatures like a dragon, but in others you can’t even think of a name, and for the most part they look downright ominous and frightening. The processions move through the streets from two squares - Marktplatz and Barfüsserplatz, and it seems incredible how they manage not to mix. The Morgenstreich, the morning procession, continues until dawn, after which participants and spectators settle in numerous cafes to taste the traditional Fastnacht dish - onion pie and flour stew. But this is only until noon - then the carnival continues, now the spectators are amused by a motorcade with a certain plot - the topic can be an event on the scale of a city, country or the whole world. “Vagisvaags” drive through the streets - vans with flowers, sweets, oranges and toys, which are generously thrown into the crowd of spectators. By the way, every viewer must buy a special carnival badge - they are made of copper, silver and gold, because if they notice a viewer without such a badge, they can mercilessly throw confetti, and even “kidnap” especially pretty girls. You can buy badges, as well as a guide to the carnival, and humorous leaflets with satirical works during the days of Fastnacht everywhere. The second day is dedicated to children - they, dressed in outlandish costumes, are entertained by presenters, you can attend concerts and a variety of performances, and on Cathedral Square there is an exhibition of lanterns that the “cliques” carried the day before. In the evening, the “guggemooziggs” come into their own - participants in a very original competition, the essence of which is a competition of false melodies on musical instruments, sometimes created from the most unusual objects - they play here, for example, on water pipes, basins or spare parts from a vacuum cleaner – this event is not for the faint of heart, but it is very funny. The third day ends with the carnival - the same costumed processions again parade through the streets, but they play sad, farewell melodies, and at exactly 4 am the music fades out, the lights go out and Basel says goodbye to the amazing holiday of Fastnacht, only to meet it again exactly a year later.

Easter in Switzerland (March-April)

As throughout the Christian world, in Switzerland one of the significant holidays is Easter - the Day of the Resurrection of the Lord, and, as it should be, it is celebrated on Sunday, but the Swiss rest for four whole days - from Good Friday to Monday. Divine services begin on Thursday, as if repeating biblical events - on Thursday the Last Supper takes place, on Friday they pray in memory of the suffering of Christ, and on Sunday the joyful news is announced in churches and churches - Christ is Risen!

Easter in Switzerland is very fun, from the very early morning people in smart clothes rush to church services, baskets of food and colored eggs are brought to church, and for this day housewives bake Easter cakes in the shape of a sheep. A special feature of Easter in Switzerland is the Easter bunny - a symbol of fertility and prosperity, hares are baked from dough, made from marmalade and chocolate, and the main attribute of Easter - colored eggs - according to tradition, you must first find them, supposedly the Easter bunny hid them. From the very morning, the children begin a fun search throughout the house. Children also have very profitable entertainment - on this day they play "twenties" with adults - if a child hands an adult a colored egg, then he must throw a 20 rappen coin at him, so that it gets stuck in the egg - then the adult can take both the egg and the money back. But, it is clear that this happens extremely rarely, so, as a rule, children replenish their pocket money.

Since Switzerland is a multinational country, individual cantons have their own customs. For example, in the canton of Ticino in the city of Mendrisio, according to Italian tradition, Easter processions are held - entire scenes from the last days of the life of Christ are played out here. In the west, in the small town of Romont in the canton of Friborg, a procession of mourners passes through the streets - women dressed in black clothes, as a reminder of the terrible events, carry the instruments of Christ’s torture on bright red pillows, the entire procession is accompanied by the singing and prayers of women. In the same canton in the city of Estaviers-les-Las, from midnight near the church, residents begin chanting in the name of the Resurrection of Christ, which ends with the ringing of discordant bells. In Bern on Easter, a whole battle begins on Kornhaus Square - all participants bring colored eggs with them and everyone’s task is to break as many other people’s eggs as possible. Not far from Geneva, in the town of Nyon, according to German custom, wells are decorated with wreaths with bows, flowers and colorful eggs. And in the city of Ferden in the canton of Valais, the tradition of charity has long been alive - on Monday after Easter you can receive portions of bread and wine.

Jazz Festival in Montreux (late June - early July)

Switzerland is unusually rich in cultural events; there are dozens of festivals alone, held in different cities throughout the year. Festivals in Switzerland are dedicated to a variety of topics: cinema, theater, dance, music, history, wine, flowers... The most famous, without exaggeration, is the Montreux Jazz Festival, which will celebrate its half-century anniversary in 2017!

Back in 1967, a big jazz fan, Claude Nobs, came up with the idea of ​​attracting tourists to a quiet town on the shores of Lake Geneva - the first stars of the three-day festival were Charles Lloyd, Keith Jarrett and several jazz groups from Europe. Nobs' idea turned out to be incredibly successful, and in the very first years the Jazz Festival gained unprecedented fame. At the same time, the festival was developing rapidly - the format was changing, the list of participants was expanding, attracting not only performers and fans of jazz, but also other musical styles, the duration of the festival became longer and longer, and very soon from a modest musical festival in a resort town, the Jazz Festival turned into one of the most high-profile cultural events throughout Europe. It is simply impossible to list all the “star” performers who performed at the festival, since the list is incredibly large, but the festival organizers can easily name the approximate number of guests - a quarter of a million people visit the event every year!

For two whole weeks, Montreux is filled with music - the main events are held in the Stravinski Auditorium complex and two large concert halls, but music flows from everywhere. Emerging artists perform on the streets, squares, parks, and on ships—the whole city these days seems to become one huge stage. In addition to concerts, festival guests will enjoy seminars, film screenings, shows in nightclubs with fashionable DJs, beach parties and competitions in the art of salsa and samba dancing.

An interesting feature of the Jazz Festival is its own currency - “jazz” - copper coins with a hole in the center, so few people will be able to pay here in francs, euros or dollars, because merchants who accept “jazz” receive substantial tax breaks - this is how the festival is supported by state level.

For half a century, the Montreux Jazz Festival has remained one of the most outstanding events in the music world, where new stars are born year after year.

Swiss National Day (August 1st)

The only holiday celebrated at the state level in Switzerland is Confederation Day. The date of the celebration was symbolically set on August 1, since the events go back to the distant year 1291, and it is not possible to establish the exact day of the historically important event. Then, in the picturesque clearing of Rütli in the very heart of modern Switzerland, representatives of the three oldest cantons - Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden - entered into an agreement, which determined the procedure for financial settlements, legal proceedings and, most importantly, protection from external enemies. Over time, other cantons began to join the union, they did so without hindrance, but the Swiss Confederation was formally recognized only in 1648, when its independence from the Holy Roman Empire was reinforced by the Treaty of Westphalia. The first of August officially became Swiss National Day in 1891, and in 1994 this day became a day off for all residents of the country.

This holiday in Switzerland, by the standards of tourists, is celebrated quite modestly, but the residents of the confederation themselves are happy with everything. On this day, many people decorate their houses with flags, the President makes a solemn speech in the Rütli clearing, music sounds everywhere, parades take place if the day is sunny, the Swiss have picnics, grilling sausages, with the onset of darkness the sky is colored with bright fireworks, and on the tops of the mountains and the hills are lit with huge cone-shaped fires. This Swiss tradition comes from the Middle Ages - then a whole system of hills was built along the borders, on the tops of which bonfires were lit in case of enemy appearance. There is even a legend according to which, in ancient times, warlike barbarians, seeing bright lights on the hills between Lake Geneva and Lake Biel, retreated, thinking that they had reached the very edge of the Earth, where the path to heaven begins.

St. Nicholas Day in Switzerland (December 6)

The Christmas tale comes to Switzerland long before the holiday itself. December here is called “Advent”, which is translated from German as “waiting”. In anticipation of the Christmas miracle, at the end of November, residents begin to decorate the streets and houses with garlands, toys and figurines of Santa Claus and animals, and fairs open in the cities. This is where you should definitely visit to feel the spirit of a real Swiss Christmas, buy unusual gifts and try traditional cookies, which in French-speaking cantons are called Christmas men, and in German - gritibans. By the way, you can even bake them yourself - on the eve of the holiday, many bakeries hold master classes.

From December 6, Samichlaus (Saint Nicholas) begins to congratulate children, giving gifts and sweets - on this day, and not on Christmas or New Year. He does not walk alone, but with his faithful companion - Shmutsl - a rather scary black man who, according to legend, punishes naughty children. But, of course, on the holiday no one remembers mischief and pranks, and children receive many gifts. And according to Swiss tradition, a month before Christmas, pine wreaths decorated with flowers are laid out on special tables, and every Sunday a candle is lit, and the appearance of the last, fourth candle means the arrival of Christmas.

In the Catholic regions of Switzerland, on the night of December 6, the “Pursuit of St. Nicholas” begins - an ancient tradition that personifies the ancient legend according to which St. Nicholas, with the help of ringing bells and a whip, expelled demons from these parts. This holiday is especially bright in the city of Küssnacht (canton of Schwyz). The procession begins at 8 pm, the lights in the city go out, and a whole procession follows through the streets, dispelling the darkness with torches. It is led by men loudly cracking their shepherd's whips, followed by about two hundred people in white robes, carrying on their heads strange structures made of cardboard, similar to the miters of bishops, only much larger in size. Weighing more than 25 kg, these headdresses are cut with mosaic patterns and lit with candles inside, making the designs resemble church stained glass windows. Behind them, surrounded by torchbearers and assistants - the Shmutzls already known to us, distributing sweets to children, a man depicting St. Nicholas appears. Following them are people in white shirts with large bells that make a loud ringing, and the procession is closed by musicians dressed in white clothes, blowing trumpets made from cow horns. The procession, illuminated only by torches, looks incredibly impressive - it seems as if time stood still somewhere in the Middle Ages, and modern civilization has never existed, so there are more than enough people who want to see the incredible procession - the procession in Kussnacht attracts more than 25 thousand tourists every year.