I just realised that 1 August is the Swiss National Day - so everyone has a day off. Woo!
But I need to be in Paris the next day, so I started to think maybe I could do a long weekend in Paris or somewhere close by. However, this will be my first 1 August and I'm wondering if I should hang around for it.
So can anyone give me an idea of what 1 August is like in Switzerland? Is it a spectacle on the scale of 4 July or is it a fizz like 26 January? I'd be keen to get the opinions of people from different parts of Switzerland - although I live in Nyon in Vaud, it's not far from Geneva of course, but I'd also consider checking it out if it was worth it in other parts of Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera, especially Zurich. Thanks!
last year....it wasnt worth it. The year before it wasnt worth it, and the year before that it wasnt either.
I find it just to be a holiday.....there are some fireworks here and there though....
well, we had a blast last year in lausanne! everyone out here goes to the lake and has bonfires,bbqs and most either slept on the shore or didn't sleep at all. honestly, it was a very fun time and the first really laid back, chill swiss holiday we had here.
It depends, smaller places, people mostly hang out with their families, I am sure there will be something in Nyon. I am going yodelling Aug 1st at Paquis the public plage, Geneva, 6am, it is super cool, there is a nice breakfast there afterwards. The whole town have festivities going, fireworks, etc.
I will dig out some program going on Aug 1st, post it either here or will make announcement.
It sounded like a war zone up til midnight. I honestly could have done without it, but it's cool to get a holiday and see another country celebrating their heritage. I personally like the little 1. August Wegglis at the store too.
I would not stay at home for it. If you have never been to Paris, or love the city, go there.
If the weather is nice, August 1 can be quite pleasant. As described by other users, most people have bbq's in the park, or near a lake, and some towns organize firework displays. Swiss people mostly hang out with family, foreigners with friends.
If the weather is bad... there is nothing you can do and you will regret not having gone to Paris.
So thats what it is that wakes us up every year - some hotel guests may misunderstand the "calling"
August 1st - not worth making a special effort for.
There are fireworks (on the 31st July here) which can be pretty good, and in Basel everyone is out in town, there are stalls and sausages and beer and stuff. But nothing really that special.
We'll be in the UK anyway!
It was fantastic fun in Basel last summer. The evening before, I went with a large bunch of friends to sit by the river, have a BBQ, and wait for the fireworks. The fireworks were great (I like fireworks and it's a bit of a novelty for me to see them in the summer) and then we all went home. Plus it's a holiday this year (last year's fell on a Sunday).
In Basel it's worth. The day before there's a big celebration with bands (Dixie, blues, jazz, rock, alphorn, yodelling) in many scenarios, many food stands and fireworks.
If you're here for a while then I wouldn't miss out on a long weekend in Paris since you're going there anyway. There's always next year to experience national day which can be fun if you pick the right place to go and as long as the weather is good for outside festivities.
I kind of like going to a farm brunch event and hanging out with friends and the locals. Although some of these are politically sponsored, most aren't.
Migros run a list of the farms participating here.
It's normally a CHF 30 or 40 entry fee and then you can graze for a few hours at the buffet at your leisure.
It's good for all ages, ankle biters all the way to Merc owners and everything in between.
my dogs hate the fireworks so we always bu**er off to the same hotel in Schwarzwald.
It is always full of Swiss (with dog) refugees.
We used to have a top floor balcony on Claraplatz so had a perfect view of the fireworks without having to mix with the proles.
Now all we can see is the apartment next to ours.
Oh well.
Cheers,
Nick
Very similar to 5th of November in UK- each village has a huge bonfire and fireworks display- with food and drinks served. In many villages there is a procession from centre of village to place where bonfire will be lit- and kids carry 'lampions' which are paper lanterns with a candle in, often with a Swiss flag printed on. The local band usually plays and leads the cortège.
This year, it will be quite different for many people, as it will coincide with the beginning of Ramadan. Assalam Alaikum. As dates for Ramadan fall back every year, this year will be particularly hard, and next year even more so, as days are so long at this time of year.
In Glarus they dye the Linth red, using a strange pigment derived from a mixture of cowslips, parsley and nutmeg. This dye has hallucinogenic properties, so anyone who drinks from or swims in the river on this day is subject to bouts of drug-induced lunacy. Although older folk stay away from the river, the young people of the canton make it into a kind of sport to see how long they can stay in the river before they go completely off their heads.
It isn't unknown to see naked red-streaked people running through the streets of Glarus, Netstal and Mollis, howling like dogs and pulling at their hair in a frenzied ritual of nationalist pride.
Needless to say, this rarely gets reported outside the canton. Lunacy is expected of the people of Glarus: if they're not dying themselves red and howling at the moon, they're chasing after witches or making green cheese.
Bless 'em!
Having attended the Basel festivities last year for 1 August (on 31 July!), I agree they are a lot of fun - the fireworks from boats in the Rhein are impressive - and the whole town seems to be out enjoying themselves. Having said that events in Glarus look way more interesting!
I guess though I dont fully get why the Baslers choose to celebrate their national day on the day before. Presumably so they can have a long lie in on their day off. However, for me that's like opening your Christmas presents on the 24th of December, rather than Christmas morning. And who would do that .....
Most dog owners escape this weekend with their canine friends to other parts of Europe due to the fireworks. Personally, I dont. My dog still barks when he hears the fireworks but its more alert and excited than anxious barking now.
I am glad we decided to bite the bullet and stay - never celebrate 4th of July so dont know what its like but from what I've observed: alot of families tend to gather together and bbq or laze by the lake. Its absolutely heaving and people start setting off their fireworks before the official ones.
Your individual gemeindes will also have celebrations. Ours this year is organised by the Womens Gymnastics Club - a breakfast buffet after mass in the morning and performances by the local choral choirs later in the afternoon before the fireworks and bonfire. Not the most exciting activities, but its a great opportunity to meet and greet those living in your commune besides your immediate neighbours.