Bern's fireworks for the Swiss national holiday were cancelled due to rain but on the other side of the Alps, towns were able to have displays
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch.com) - The First of August national holiday in Switzerland was not a quiet one for emergency services. The east of the country was swept by high winds and rain late in the day and during the night from Sunday to Monday, causing flooding in Schwytz and St Gallen. A man drowned in Lake Constance, in the Valais resort of Crans-Montana a car veered out of control in the village centre and injured seven.
The accident in Crans-Montana occurred shortly after noon Sunday 1 August when a 74-year-old man lost control of his car for reasons that are not yet clear, drove onto a sidewalk where he hit five people, then hit the window of a bakery, damaging several vehicles in the process.
Storms opened up around 20:00 Sunday evening in central and eastern Switzerland, causing streams to overflow, blocking roads in some areas, but also putting a damper on holiday fireworks planned in canton Bern and notably at the Bruenig Pass. The city of Bern received a heavy dose: 2 cm of rain in less than an hour. Winds in Neuchatel and La Broye reached 90 kph, according to the national weather service and hail fell in some areas of the country.
A 49-year-old man fell into Lake Constance from his boat late Sunday when a storm suddenly whipped up on the lake and part of their equipment went into the water. The man fell overboard while trying to get it back. The friend who was with him tried to pull him back into the boat, unsuccessfully. She called police immediately and a 50-person, 15-boat international rescue team spent four hours looking for him, to no avail. The search continues Monday morning.
Links to other sites: TSR (Fre), 20 Minutes (Fre)
The meaning of 1 August, Switzerland’s national day, and where people celebrate
Some Swissness - Photo Ellen Wallace
Swiss Alps near Leuk, canton Valais, morning of 1 August
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch.com) 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.
The Letter of Alliance was signed by Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald (today Unterwald is formed by cantons Nidwalden and Obwalden.)
That initial agreement paved the road for 26 additional cantons, or federal states, to join what became the Swiss Confederation in 1848.
Forty-three years after the creation of the Confederation the Swiss celebrated for the first time, in Bern in 1891, the signing of the agreement.
It took another 149 years, and a public referendum, before it became a recognized federal holiday in 1994.
How the Swiss celebrate their national day
Fireworks Saturday night in Sierre, canton Valais
It is a “new holiday” and many traditions are still being formed, so celebrations are mostly organized at a local level without major national events.
The president of the Confederation or one of the members of the Federal Council generally participate in a celebration at the Ruetli meadow – called Gruetli in French and German – which is considered the birthplace of the Swiss Confederation (and a great place for hiking.)
Where to celebrate
The most complete listing of celebrations across Switzerland can be found on the Swiss National Tourist Office website. Many events are posted in English but you’ll find more results if you search in French or German.
The GenevaLunch events page also has information on where to see fireworks in cantons Geneva and Vaud, and our news page carries information on fireworks restrictions.
To learn more about the country, as part of your holiday celebrations, the federal web site ch.ch has a wealth of additional information and links to Swiss resources.
And, if you’re feeling weak on knowledge of Swiss politics, geography, culture and history, a new board game in English, Helvetiq, offers 312 question/answer cards to make you an expert. See our GenevaLunch review of the game.
Enjoy the holiday!
Title: Exhibition: The Swiss Army knife – a tool that’s become an icon
Location: Schwyz
Link out: Click here
Description: This exhibition examines topics such as knives and superstition, and features unusual examples such as a pistol knife and the largest and smallest pocket knives.
Start Date: 16 May 2009
End Date: 18 Oct 2009
