Today, the people of Switzerland are celebrating their National Day. August 1 commemorates the founding of the Swiss Confederation as it is known today.
In 1291, three mountain cantons united and signed the Federal Charter, which became the foundation of today’s Swiss Confederation, now consisting of 26 cantons.
A group of freedom-loving men pledged their loyalty on the Rütli Meadow, located on the shores of Lake Lucerne in the canton of Uri.
Although the Federal Charter was discovered in 1758, the Swiss government officially recognized it as the founding document of the Swiss state in the late 19th century.
August 1 was celebrated for the first time in 1891, and from 1899 onward it became an annual celebration.
In 1993, Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved August 1 as the country’s official National Day, and from the following year, 1994, it also became a public holiday.
Switzerland’s National Day is celebrated both across the country and by Swiss communities abroad with paper lanterns, bonfires, and spectacular fireworks.
