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The short version (for more details, click the links) :
The Swiss National Day refers to the Federal Charter of 1291. This pact is considered as the founding act of the Confederacy ; it was concluded “early August” between the representatives of three original cantons (Uri, Schwytz and Unterwalden). However, the Federal State as we know it today is only born in 1848.
In 1891, the authorities decided for the first time to celebrate the national holiday on August 1st and to choose the Federal Charter of 1291 as founding pact of Switzerland. Previously, it’s the legendary Oath of Grütli that was commemorated. The 1st of August is a holiday since 1994 only.
Every municipality organizes the festivities for the national day from the nightfall : bonfire, procession with lanterns, speeches, and often fireworks. The streets of cities and villages are decorated with Swiss flags and flags of cantons and municipality. The inhabitants decorate often their house in the same way.
We don’t like fireworks at all, and we prefer to celebrate in quietness at home !
Happy Swiss National Day!!
Enjoy your quiet celebrations at home 🙂
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
What a nice holiday! Happy Swiss National Day my friends – we think you decorated your yard BEAUTIFULLY and I hope it’s a nice, quiet day for you.
Love, Teddy
Happy Swiss National Day! I hope the fireworks aren’t too bad in your area!
Happy Swiss National Day!
Happy National Swiss Day, dear friends!
Happy Swiss National Day, and for keeping it low key.
You two look terrific and I hope your celebration is too! Happy Swiss National Day!!!
You two sure look very happy. Happy Swiss National Day. Take care.
Happy Swiss National Day!!!!! Thank COD you don’t use fireworks!
pixie N zorro; yur yard lookz awesum; ewe both due two…happy swiss national day two everee one; we agreez firewerkz……blah ~~~~~~
🙂 ♥♥
Happy Swiss National Day!!
Happy Swiss National Day! The flowera are pretty.
Happy Swiss National Day! We would skip the fireworks too 🙂 XO
Happy Swiss National Day! We hope the day is quiet for you all. (We feel the same way about fireworks on our Fourth of July.)
Happy National Swiss Day! We agree…celebrating without fireworks is better.
Happy Swiss Day to you. Hope you had a nice day to cellybrate.
Happy Swiss National Day. Switzerland is the one country I dream of visiting. Maybe on our 40th anniversary in three years.
Happy Happy Swiss day!!!!! we normally had this day on our celebrate list, but the mama furgot to order a swiss army blanket for having a fondue there… think she gets old…
I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday.
And all your fellow citizens too.
Happy Swiss National Day! I had no idea about Swiss history. We’re with you, Pixie and Zorro … celebrations are usually better at home.
Happy Swiss National Day (Belated) what a great celebration! Thanks for telling us more about it.
We have a holiday this weekend too! Ours is British Columbia Day is observed on the first Monday in August similar to civic holidays in other provinces. An even though it is BC Day, it is not an “Official” Statutory holiday in BC! We are all going to enjoy having Mom home for an extra day.
We hope you enjoy your holiday!
Purrs
Marv
Happy Swiss National Day. I like the way the ends of the bottom logs in your decoration are notched. I hope there weren’t too many fireworks.
Hope you enjoyed your holiday and didn’t have to listen to too many pesky fireworks!