Subtle with the Swiss flags

Expect fireworks

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Switzerland celebrates its National Day 1 August, a time when families tend to get together and the Swiss return to their “home” towns, which is not necessarily where they grew up, but the town where their family is registered.

Watch those fireworks

Expect bonfires and fireworks: some 1,700 tons of pyrotechnics are sold every year. Keep in mind the federal government’s recommendations to avoid these if you have cardiovascular or respiratory system problems because they sharply increase, for a short period, the fine dust particles in the air. And if you’re setting off fireworks, remember that they provoke serious stress for animals, Bern says, so don’t do it near them.

The annual August holiday provokes on average 250 accidents related to fireworks, and fires cause some CHF4 million in damage. Safety tips, Swiss Bureau for the Prevention of Accidents (Fre)

The bonfires are part of an old Swiss tradition, particularly in the Alps, where one village could warn another of impending attacks by lighting a bonfire, easily visible at a great distance.

Homeward bound, cheaply

The CFF rail company is offering a special “Homecoming days” deal  to all Swiss to take the train for CHF15, 1 and 2 August, when they return to their place of origin, as it’s known. The deal is good between your home town and your place of residence, as they appear on a Swiss identity card or passport.

The meaning of 1 August, Switzerland’s National Day

Go back to 1291 for the source of this holiday that recalls a day in early August, over 700 years ago, when three independent republics signed a pact to protect each other. (Ed. note: if you’re feeling weak on knowledge of Swiss politics, geography, culture and history, a new board game in English will be launched 1 August, Helvetiq, offering 312 question/answer cards to make you an expert. See our GenevaLunch review of the game)

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Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The traffic was light at the end of the afternoon, with many people leaving work early to head for other parts of Switzerland for the national holiday, 1 August. Paleo has ended (read GL’s final day review), Geneva is gearing up for its Fetes de Geneve which starts Friday. Some towns in the region are celebrating with bonfires and fireworks Tuesday night while most are preparing for a party Wednesday evening.

GenevaLunch is taking a day off, but we’ll be here long enough Wednesday morning to share a few photos and remind you what the First of August is all about.