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07/01/2010Public holidays in Switzerland

swiss flag Here is Expatica's 2010 calendar of public holidays in Switzerland.

Public holidays in Switzerland are taken very seriously, with almost all shops and public institutions closed. If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, workers commonly take either the Monday or Friday off too, for a long weekend.

2010
1 January - New Year's Day (Neujahrstag)
2 January* - Berchtold's Day (Berchtoldstag)
2 April* - Good Friday (Karfreitag)
5 April* - Easter Monday (Ostermontag)
13 May* - Ascension (Auffahrt)
24 May* - Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag)
1 August - Swiss National Day (Bundesfeier)
1 November - All Saints
8 December - Immaculate Conception
25 December - Christmas Day (Weihnachten)
26 December - Boxing Day (Stephenstag)

*These dates are only observed in some cantons (districts) of Switzerland, and there are additional regional holidays which are observed in only certain cantons.

confetti

The Swiss National Day
Every year on 1 August, Switzerland celebrates the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291. Each Swiss commune offers a day of federal unity with firework displays, concerts, public speeches or presentations. Thousands of people attend festivities in the largest cities (Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Bern and Lugano). The main celebrations take place at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen and at the Ruetli Meadows alongside Lake Lucerne.  

Chris Morillon / Expatica 2008-2010




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