Culture 
Popular customs and festivals in Switzerland
Select your Region:
Basel Region (5)
Bernese Oberland (0)
Central Switzerland (9) Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein (7) Fribourg Region (3) Geneva (Region) (1) Graubünden (3) Lake Geneva Region (1) Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura (4) Schweizer Mittelland (4) Ticino (2) Valais (2) Zurich (Region) (4)
Ajoie (Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura)
St. Martin, as well as being a religious festival, corresponds with the end of the annual cycle of working the fields.
Switzerland
Since 1891, the first of August has been celebrated as Swiss National Day.
Aarau (Schweizer Mittelland)
Aarau wird nicht nur von der Aare, sondern auch vom Stadtbach durchflossen, einem künstlich angelegten Wasserlauf, der früher das unentbehrliche Nass von einer Quelle in die Stadt führte.
Basel (Basel Region)
Late in the morning of a wintry day in January - alternately January 13, 20 or 27 - a raft with a very strange crew floats down the River Rhine. There are two drummers, two men carrying big flags, and two cannoneers, who repeatedly fire gun salutes.
The Fasnacht (carnival) in Basel is recognized as the largest popular festival in
Switzerland, with some 15,000 to 20,000 masked participants taking part.
The prelude is the Morgestraich on the Monday following Ash Wednesday.
Baselbiet (Basel Region)
Until the Reformation, the Ascension Day Ride around Basel and surrounding areas was an old custom associated with the blessing of the fields and the checking of the boundary stones.
Begnins (Lake Geneva Region)
The return of the month of May has always been a time for rejoicing and celebrations, marked by special customs in different regions.
Bern (Schweizer Mittelland)
On the fourth Monday in November, the upper part of the old city of Bern between the railway station and the Bundesplatz, the square facing the Parliament buildings, is transformed into a giant marketplace.
Beromünster (Central Switzerland)
Unparalleled in Switzerland is the religious custom celebrated at Beromünster. In the early morning of Ascension Day, a large group on horseback leaves the town for a ride around the fields.
Düdingen (Fribourg Region)
Corpus Christi processions were once celebrated in a majority of Roman Catholic parishes in Switzerland. Many have become the victims of motorization, not to mention the reforms initiated by the Second Vatican Council.
Engadin (Graubünden)
The first of March used to be the date public offices were appointed in many regions of the Graubünden. Today, it is the day of the largest children's festival in the Engadine and a few other valleys (Val Mustair, Bregaglia, Oberhalbstein).
Ermatingen (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
During Lent, three weeks before Easter, the Thurgovian village of Ermatingen celebrates its Groppenfasnacht, or fish carnival. The carnival gets its name from the main character of the event, the Gropp, a fish, 10-15 cm in length, which is caught only in the Ermatingen area.
Fribourg (Fribourg Region)
When night falls, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Fribourg, rides a donkey through the streets of the old city, leading a procession towards the platform erected under the portico of the cathedral.
Geneva (Geneva (Region))
During the night of December 11-12, 1602, the city of Geneva was attacked by Savoyard soldiers, who attempted to scale the city ramparts. The Duke of Savoy, who had lost his former possession of Geneva, was trying to reclaim it.
Glarnerland (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
On December 6, or a date near it, the schoolchildren of most Glarus communities parade through their villages, ringing and jingling bells of all sizes, sometimes in rhythmic unison, sometimes in wild abandon.
Hallwil (Central Switzerland)
The village of Hallwil, in Reformed Aargau, is the only one far and wide to maintain a complete cycle of winter customs, all taking place within one month. Such an effort naturally requires the initiative and the involvement of many people.
Küssnacht am Rigi (Central Switzerland)
On December 5, the eve of St. Nicholas' Day, the village of Küssnacht, on the shores of Lake Lucerne, glows in the light of some two hundred enormous, transparent bishops' miters which have been artfully designed, cut out of cardboard, assembled, and lit by a candle from within.
Laupen (Schweizer Mittelland)
The origin of this New Year's Eve custom in the Bernese town of Laupen can be traced back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Originally it took place on the day of Christmas. Since it was a rather noisy and sometimes even rowdy celebration, town
officials repeatedly tried to forbid it, without success.
Liestal (Basel Region)
In many areas of Basel-Country, bone-fires and torch-light parades form the prelude to carnival, which coincides with the one being celebrated by the city of Basel. In the small town of Liestal, a most spectacular form of this prelude has become famous in its own right, partly owing to the fact
that is is performed at various festivals.
Lötschental (Valais)
Starting as early as Candlemas (February 2) one may encounter the Roitschäggätä in the Lötschental. These are wild figures clad in fur and hiding behind impressive wooden masks.
Lucerne (Central Switzerland)
The origins of the Lucerne Carnival, the celebration of which practically rules the town for a few days, are characterised by the figure of Fritschi, an elderly man with his wife known as the Fritschene, and the Fritschikind, or Fritschi's child.
Mendrisio (Ticino)
The two processions which take place during Holy Week can be traced back to the time around 1600. On Maundy Thursday, Christ's journey to Calvary is portrayed by 200 people representing the Jews and the Romans who played a role in the crucifixion of Christ.
Neuchâtel (Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura)
Vineyards have been cultivated on the hills of Neuchâtel since the tenth century. It is therefore quite appropriate that the people of Neuchâtel honor their vineyards and wine with a traditional and colorful vintage festival.
OW / NW (Central Switzerland)
To mark the end of the Alpine summer, in many places there is an Alpine festival in which the dairy farmers and pasture owners join the villagers in giving thanks to God, while also having a great deal of fun and socialising.
Poschiavo (Graubünden)
On a sunny Sunday in May - weather permitting - the schoolchildren of the Reformed school in Poschiavo are accompanied by many grownups on a hike to the chapel on the Selva Alpine meadow, a good hour's hike from the village.
Richterswil (Zurich (Region))
In the Canton of Zurich, and more recently in other regions of German speaking Switzerland, processions which feature decorated, hollowed out fodder beets containing a lighted candle have become customary.
Romont (Fribourg Region)
The time: the afternoon of Good Friday; the place: the Church of Romont. The ceremony begins with a reading from the Bible of the Passion of Christ. When the funeral procession is mentioned, the congregation begins its long procession through the streets of the upper town.
Saignelégier (Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura)
Since its inception at the end of the nineteenth century, the Saignelégier Horse Show had as its objective the recognition and promotion of a native breed of horse: the Franches-Montagnes.
Saint-Ursanne (Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura)
The medieval festival “Les Médiévales” takes place in Saint-Ursanne every other year during the second weekend in July. To the delight of several thousand spectators, the festival portrays during the three days of the event some of the activities typical of the Middle Ages as well as the atmosphere and mood in such a city at that time in history.
Scuol (Graubünden)
In the morning of the first Saturday in February, the older schoolchildren meet at the village square in Scuol to build the Hom Strom, or man of straw. They twist together thick strands of rye which has been hand-threshed and especially prepared for this purpose.
Solothurn (Schweizer Mittelland)
During carnival time, when everything is "upside down", the town of Solothurn changes into Honolulu - since a witty fellow once claimed that the town on the River Aare was exactly on the other side of the globe from Hawaii. This idea is still maintained.
St.Gall (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Every three years, the city of St.Gallen in Eastern Switzerland celebrates its children's festival as a traditional city event in which most of the people participate. The festival originated in old school customs celebrated on St. Gregory's Day, in memory of Pope Gregory I.
Sursee (Central Switzerland)
In the country town of Sursee in Canton Lucerne, a well known custom is celebrated. It is unique within Switzerland and thus attracts crowds of spectators.
Switzerland (Central Switzerland)
The early history of the Swiss Confederation is marked by a series of decisive battles in which the alliance formed in 1291 had to be defended.
The Landsgemeinde is an original form of Swiss direct democracy and a
unique event of its kind in the world. On a specific day, the citizens
entitled to vote gather under the open sky to elect their government
and courts, and to decide about laws and financial matters.
Tessin (Ticino)
The carnival custom celebrated in the towns is more recent than the one observed in the country. In Bellinzona, for example, it goes back as far as the 1860s.
Urnäsch (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
The tradition of the Urnäsch Silvesterkläuse, a custom over 200 years old, has developed from simple begging in disguise into an expression of creative handwork. Today, the Kläuse wear robes and masks which require a great deal of time and effort to make.
Urnerland (Central Switzerland)
August 1, 1291 was the day representatives from the three original cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden met together on the Rütli, a meadow overlooking Lake Lucerne, and swore lasting allegiance to one another. The Swiss Confederation was born.
Valais (Valais)
Cow fights take place throughout the region in which the Hérens breed has its home (Central Valais, Lower Valais, Valle d'Aosta in Italy). More than any other breed, these small black cows with short, sturdy horns have retained the instinct to organize themselves into a social hierarchy.
Weinfelden (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
On Thursday of the last full week before Christmas, the children of the town of Weinfelden in Canton Thurgau parade through the streets with their decorated fodder beets, which have been hollowed out and furnished with a lighted candle.
Wil (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
The New Year's Eve Procession in Wil is associated with what was originally known as "lantern inspection". In earlier times, it was obligatory for all houses to have emergency lighting. Compliance with the regulation was checked by a town committee.
Wildkirchli (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Wildkirchli is a cave situated in the Alpstein range in Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden. It has become renowned for its prehistoric finds. On the second Sunday in July, the festival of the guardian angel is held there.
Winterthur (Zurich (Region))
The festival of St. Alban's in Winterthur is somewhat exceptional since it is based on an historical event but has only recently been instituted.
Ziefen (Basel Region)
On Christmas Eve at 21 hours, a few dozen mostly younger men, follow a traditional route through the village. They themselves are silent, but the bells they swing create a rhythmic din.
Zug (Central Switzerland)
On the Wednesday before St. Agatha's Day, the millers, bakers, and confectioners, who together form a brotherhood and guild, meet for a service of remembrance and thereafter enjoy a meal together.
Zürich (Zurich (Region))
On the second weekend in September each year, about 4'000 Zurich boys, ages 12 to 16, (and since 1991 girls too) take part in a marksmanship contest. They use a modern rifle like the one they will later be issued in the army.
This Zurich spring custom got its unusual name from the fourteenth century custom of ringing a Grossmünster bell at six o'clock in the evening to proclaim the end of the summer semester working day. The first ringing of the bell provided a good opportunity for a small springtime celebration.
