Happy Birthday, Switzerland!

1^st August: Swiss National Day

Streets, squares and balconies – they will all be decorated today with Swiss flags, lanterns and garlands in red and white. The background to the festive decorations is the Swiss National Day on 1^st August. This is celebrated every year with political speeches, fireworks, laser shows, parades, bonfires and lantern parades.

On this day, the whole country commemorates the Letter of Confederation of 1291, in which the towns of Unterwalden, Uri and Schwyz pledged to help each other in the event of danger from outside. According to legend, the representatives of the three founding towns took their oath on the Rütli meadow above Lake Lucerne in Canton Uri. “The three Confederates” vowed to free their country from the Habsburgs.

Because of its historical significance, the official celebration of the Confederation takes place at this historic site with an address by the President of the Confederation to the entire nation. With the referendum of 1993, the national holiday was declared a non-working day throughout Switzerland.

The destination of Davos Klosters also celebrates this day extensively: the supporting programme of the national holiday includes a flea market, a varied children’s programme, musical entertainment, a laser show and much more.