Switzerland known for its lush meadows and Alpine peaks also offers a bouquet of exciting festivals spread all over the year. They know how to work hard in the harsh but beautiful environment and when it comes to playing and entertainment, they are a step ahead. The country offers a wealth of attractions from traditional open-air festivals against the scenic Swiss landscaper to the contemporary Jazz festivals. They still celebrate old customs and cultural traditions. Modernity has not dampened their spirit to remember and celebrate the past.
This modern European country renowned for its Financial institutions and precision machine part industries also has managed to keep its culture and traditions alive. The carnivals and local festivals are unlike any in the world. They like to dress up both in elegant costumes and carnival mascots, their attire suiting the theme of the occasion. Even the carnival festivals area highly localized showing of local customs, traditions, costumes, and food. Either it is cheese or Swiss wine, these all get a place of pride during the high-octane celebrations and festivities.
A visitor can be treated to Swiss music festivals, film festivals, and of course the performing arts like theatre and the opera. One can join the locals to enjoy both indoors and outdoors events like rock music, ever popular pop music, energetic Jazz, classical music renditions, theatre, and even film. People in the country have understood the meaning of mixing work with enough play. They believe in blissfully enjoy festivals while relishing cheese and chocolates.
Festival des Ballons- International Balloon Festival, Chateau d’Oex
This international festival held in January every year in the village of Chateau d’Oex is a very important event in the Swiss calendar. Pilots and amateur hot air balloon enthusiasts come in from Europe and far corners of the world to patriciate in the single most important festival of its kind in the world. This nine-day festival sees the participation of all kinds of hot air balloons. At any time, hundreds of the balloons can be seen floating above the mountainous region. Visitors and locals alike enjoy both the culture and the unique mountainous scenery of the countryside. The organizers use the occasion to show off both Swiss wine and food traditions. The balloon festival becomes an excuse to showcase the best Switzerland has to offer. A visitor can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Alpine nation as well as enjoy their culture and customs once they soar high in the skies.
The recent years have seen the participation of hot air balloons from over 20 countries. Every nation I the world gets a platform to show off both their skills and traditions by participating in this unique festival held high above in the skies. Each of the colorful balloons is unique in shape and colorfully patterned. Every balloon has a unique shape, color pattern and theme, making it a truly global festival.The balloons floating over the Swiss Alps gives a beautiful birds-eye view of the beautiful Swiss landscape. The scene from the ground is as beautiful as the view from the basket floating high into the skies. This festival does not need a theme or cultural tradition, anyone with an aesthetic sense would enjoy the view from high above the snow peaked mountain ranges or floating over green pastures of the Swiss countryside.
Basler Fasnacht (Carnival Festival), Basel, Switzerland
This festival held in March every year counts as one of the top festivals which takes part in Europe and the carnival-like environment showcases Swiss culture and tradition. The city of Basler is adorned and decorated for the occasion. One can be treated to procession and parades showcasing the best and even quirky customs of the region. The only way to truly experience the spirit of the festival is to attend the three- day festivities. The carnival traditionally has three parts: It begins on a Monday after Ash Wednesday or the start of the Lent season with Morgenstreich, the next day, a Tuesday is Gugge Music da and the finale on Wednesday with Endstreich. The fun and boisterous atmosphere cannot be replicated anywhere in the world.
A visitor can have a truly immersive experience if they knew the glossary of the festival:
Chaise: A big procession of carriage of women in costumes giving candy and flowers.
Clique: A big group of flutists and drummers who participate in the carnival celebrations
Cliquenzug: This refers to the costumes and lanterns cortege or processions part of the Clique.
Gugge Music: The main part of the carnival which includes the brass and percussion instruments playing a cacophony of harmonious melodies, all at the same time.
Larve: The main attraction of the festival is the Larve or masks which was traditionally made of wood, but now made of laminated or plaster mold glued together.
Lanterns: The festival would not be bright and illuminated without its trademark lanterns. The lanterns usually depict paintings and caricatures and are carried by lantern carriers on their shoulders or in a wagon. The lanterns can be atleast two to three meters tall and can be seen from quite a distance.
Rappli: No festival can be a success without the color of confetti, and Rappli is confetti in Basel’stongue.
Schyssdraggziigli: A smaller groups of procession or cortege participants playing the flutes or the drums.
Wagen: The characteristic vehicle;e of the carnival filled with candy, flowers and of course ‘Rappli’ confetti.
Zeedal: The Basel dialect gets a mention in this carnival leaflet which contains satirical verses.
The best time to enjoy the festival is to join in the festivities with the locals at dawn. The whole town and the visitors can be seen strolling the streets enjoying the dances and festive atmosphere.
Fete Nationale Suisse- Swiss National Day festival and celebrations
This important day in August every year sees festive events being held all over the country. The celebrations are more international in nature showcasing Swiss cultural traditions. The main activities include the gathering of families and friends for food, barbeques and firework display in the evenings. During the day there are parades by school children holding paper lanterns and that is reciprocated with people lighting candles in the windows. The spirit of a proud nation is on display here. People dressed in national costumes; children dressed in their best suits march the streets in a proud display of their cultural identity.
The festival-like celebrations can be seen all around the country, but the major celebrations take place in the bigger cities of Geneva, Zurich, Bern, and Basel. This scope and range of thefestival invite a lot of visitors from Europe and the world. The national day becomes aplatform to showcase the centuries-old customs and traditions.
The best place for a new visitor to Switzerland to get the true spirit of the festivities is in Rhine Falls, Schaffhausen, and the Ruetlu Meadows, Lake Lucerne. These places are the best in terms of hotels, cultural events, and food displays. One can have a good holiday, enjoying everything Swiss from their hospitality, traditional costumes and dances, recitation and rendition and traditional songs and music, to the best of cheese, wine, and chocolates.
The celebrations are inspired by important events in Swiss history. The month and date of the festival are influenced by the Federal Charter of Bundesbrief of 1291, an important historical founding document of Switzerland.
If you cannot wait to visit Switzerland and especially one of its great festivals, go to the German website Backpackertrail to find out more travel tips for your next adventure to Switzerland.
List of other major festivals
- January: Berchtold’s Day -Berchtoldstag,Harder-Potschete parade, Interlaken
Gregorian-calendar New Year’s Eve celebrations, Appenzell
Lauberhorn ski race, Wengen
World Snow Festival, Grindelwald
International Hot Air Balloon Festival, Château-d’Oex
- February: White Turf, St. Moritz (Horse races across frozen lake)
Chalandamarz, across Graubünden (Traditional costumes, processions)
- March: Fasnacht (Carnival; especially big deal in Luzern, Zürich, Bern, and Basel)
Engadin Ski Marathon (Cross-country ski race)
International Jazz Festival Bern
Tulip Festival, Morges (Lake Geneva)
- April: Interlaken Classic Music Festival
Sechseläuten, Zürich (Springtime festival)
Lucerne Festival at Easter
Appenzell Landsgemeinde (Open-air parliament)
- May: Gruyères Cheese Festival
Ascension (Christi Himmelfahrt, processions)
- June: Street Artists Festival, Ascona, Locarno
Fête de la Musique, Lausanne (Music performances in streets and squares)
Fête de la Musique, Geneva (Music performances in streets and squares)
Montreux Jazz Festival
- July: Tellspiele (William Tell performances; Interlaken)
Estival Jazz, Lugano (Free open-air festival)
Rosenfest, Weggis (Music, parades; Lake Lucerne)
Lausanne City Festival
St. Ursanne Medieval Festival (Northwest Switzerland)
Gurten Festival, Bern (Open-air rock festival)
Blue Balls Music Festival, Luzern (world music)
Paléo Festival, Nyon (Indie rock, world music)
International Alphorn Festival, Nendaz (Valais)
Interlaken International Street Artists Festival (Glauklerfest)
National Costume Festival, Männlichen peak (BernerOberland)
- August: Swiss National Day (Parades and Fireworks)
Locarno International Film Festival
Street Parade, Zürich
Zermatt Folklore Festival
Lucerne Festival in Summer (classical music)
- September: JeuneGenevois (Thanksgiving in Geneva)
Knabenschiessen, Zürich (shooting competition/carnival)
Alpine cattle descent (Cow processions through Alpine villages)
- October: Festad’Autunno, Lugano (Food and Wine Harvest festival)
Vernier sur Rock Festival near Geneva)
- November: Geneva International Film Festival
Zibelemärit, Bern (Traditional onion-market fair)
- December: Nikolaus Day (Visits from Samichlaus)
de l’Escalade (Torchlight parade with period costumes)
Restoration Day in Geneva
