Every year on the 1st of August, the Swiss celebrate their national holiday, which is an official holiday in all of the Swiss cantons. Since the 20th century, the event is mainly celebrated with evening BBQs among friends and families, and, as the main event, by displaying fireworks until midnight.
In the last few years, many cities have started the tradition of holding their own official firework display which then typically takes place on July 31 such as not to clash with the traditional family festivities the day after.
However, in the wake of climate change, rendering the months of June and July hot and dry in Switzerland, in many years, public authorities are forced to announce a ban on firework sale and display for the immediate risk of forest fires. Sadly, this is again the case this year, in 2018, and most cantons have announced a partial or complete ban on fireworks.
The Swiss flag on Switzerland’s biggest Ferris wheel (50 m / 165 ft high), as it is currently standing in Geneva.
Why the 1st of August?
The 1st of August is taken as the mystical day of foundation of the precursor of modern Switzerland, the Alte Eidgenossenschaft (Old Swiss Confederacy). The date stems from the eldest known document (later known as the Bundesbrief (Federal Charter)) to testify a league of the three original cantons (Waldstätte (‘forest-sites’)), now central Switzerland, which is dated
anno domini m° cc° Lxxxx° primo incipiente mense Augusto. (latin)
anno domini 1291 at the beginning of the month of August.
“Bundesbrief2” from Wikimedia commons, put into public domain. Original author unknown.
From a historic perspective, however, it remains unclear to which exact date the letter is referring to, nor is it even known if the dating is original or backdated, or whether the document really is the first of its kind. Many of the more romantic interpretations, such as the document representing a founding charter of an alliance against external powers, have been imposed on it in the modern era.
Swiss flag (1)
In fact, a modern constitutional state on Swiss soil has not been established until 1798 when the country was invaded by the French and emperor Napoléon Bonaparte molded the country into a modern democracy.
Eventually, after a series of uprisings and war, in 1848, with the entry into force of the Swiss Federal Constitution, the modern Swiss federal state was created, based on the principles of democracy, federalism, and “everlasting armed neutrality”, as established by the Congress of Vienna (which restructured Post-Napoleon-Europe) in 1814/1815.
It was not until the 19th century that the 1st of August has been popularized and eventually officially declared as the Swiss national holiday. Today, the Swiss hence have the luxury (or burden?) of celebrating this date during European midsummer.
Note to my followers: It is also because of the extremely high temperatures and the sunny weather at the moment that I’m still extending my “Steemit break” until further notice. Sorry again! I couldn’t resist creating this special little post today though. It’s merely a sample of more elaborate articles about Swiss culture and history I want to create in the future. I hope all of you have a nice summer as well, and that you can take the time and enjoy being outside!
Additional image sources:
- “Flag of Switzerland” from Wikimedia commons, put into public domain. Original author: Marc Mongenet
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