Swiss National Day

Origins and history

The date draws on the Federal Charter of 1291, agreed in early August when the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden pledged mutual assistance. For centuries, Swiss foundation accounts favoured other events, such as the 1307 oath at Rütli or the 1315 Brunnen pact. In 1889, government officials proposed linking Bern's seven-hundredth anniversary with a six-hundredth confederacy anniversary in 1891. Annual observances began in 1899, while anniversary events in 1941 helped firmly cement the 1291 charter in public memory. Following a federal vote in 1993, the day officially became a national public holiday in 1994.

How it is celebrated

Festivities are organized primarily by local municipalities rather than by central decree. Communities gather to ignite ritual bonfires on hillsides and watch fireworks illuminate the night sky. Children walk through streets carrying lit paper lanterns, while rows of red-and-white Swiss flags hang between buildings. Special regional spectacles also draw attention. At the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, the large waterfall is illuminated with lights, a custom maintained since 1920. In Basel, public fireworks take place along the Rhine on the eve of the holiday, and commemorative gatherings occur at Rütli Meadow.

Celebrations around the world

Swiss emigrant communities maintain festive gatherings across several countries. In the United States, celebrations in New York, Washington, and California feature raclette, sausages, regional wine, and traditional games like crossbow shooting. In Canada, gatherings at Mont Sutton in Quebec highlight the cuisine and products of a different canton each year. British groups meet in London and Yorkshire, often holding events ahead of the official date. In the Uruguayan settlement of Nueva Helvecia, the annual Fiestas Suizas span August with street parties, traditional dancing, music, and bonfires.

How Swiss National Day is kept

Municipalities and community groups manage their own local programmes. During the day and evening, residents decorate towns with strings of national flags. Families take part in processions where children carry illuminated paper lanterns. When darkness falls, communities gather around large ritual bonfires and launch public fireworks displays. Certain localities stage unique events, including lighting up the Rhine Falls waterfall, holding fireworks along the river in Basel on the prior evening, or staging symbolic ceremonies at Rütli Meadow.

When and where

The holiday falls on 1 August each year, matching the early August timeframe recorded in the historic Federal Charter of 1291. Some diaspora groups host gatherings on neighboring weekends or start festivities on 31 July.

The observance takes place across all Swiss cantons and municipalities, with notable gatherings at the Rütli Meadow, Schaffhausen, and Basel. Expatriate communities also celebrate in countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

What Swiss National Day means

The holiday honours the founding pact sworn by the early Alpine cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden. Gathering around communal fires, raising flags, and carrying paper lanterns reflects national solidarity, local community bonds, and the historic alliance that shaped the country.

On the table

• raclette
• Swiss sausages
• Swiss wine

Swiss National Day dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Swiss National Day

See also

Independence DayThe United States' national day of parades, barbecues and fireworks, kept each July 4Bastille DayFrance's national day marking the storming of the Bastille and the unity of the people on 14 July.Canada DayA national holiday on July 1 that marks the 1867 union of Canadian colonies into a single dominion.Martin Luther King Jr. DayAn American federal holiday honouring the civil rights leader with service and remembrance

Good reading and sources

• Swiss National Day on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.