Episode 149: The Year-Round Guide to Traditional Swiss Festivals That Will Make Your Trip to Switzerland Truly Unforgettable

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Planning a trip to Switzerland? Don’t miss this deep dive into the country’s most beloved Swiss festivals! From winter to autumn, Switzerland celebrates its rich heritage with vibrant events that bring locals and travelers together.

In this episode, Kathrin Spinnler returns to the show to guide us through the colorful calendar of Swiss celebrations. We chat about Bern’s iconic Zibelemärit, or Onion Festival, where confetti, onion tarts, and quirky traditions take over the city. You’ll also learn about Carnival Switzerland, locally known as Fasnacht, with its wild masks, brass bands, and festive Glühwein.

Explore Zurich’s springtime Sechseläuten festival and the fiery fate of the Böögg, then fast-forward to summer for cow parades, cow fighting, and the patriotic pride of Swiss National Day. We also highlight the charm of Christmas markets, the sweet traditions of St. Nicholas Day, and the homemade joy of Swiss Christmas cookies.

Plus, discover Swiss Easter traditions, cozy cheese festivals, Swiss wine, and events that showcase traditional costumes, yodeling, and more. 

Whether you love cultural immersion or simply great food, these Swiss festivals are a must for your itinerary!

Show Notes

In this episode you’ll learn about:

• Some of Switzerland’s most unique and historic winter festivals, including Bern’s famous Onion Festival and its quirky traditions
• What to expect at Swiss Christmas markets and how Swiss families celebrate the festive season, from mulled wine to homemade cookies
• Traditional customs for St. Nicholas’s Day and how Swiss children celebrate with boots full of treats
• The lively Carnival (Fasnacht) celebrations across Switzerland and the folklore behind scary masks and brass bands
• Spring and summer festivals such as Zurich’s spectacular Sechseläuten and the grand Alpine cattle processions
• How locals celebrate Swiss National Day, plus insider tips on authentic Swiss experiences like farm fairs, cow parades, cheese and wine festivals

Our Guest

Festivals and cultural celebrations mentioned in this episode

>> Bern Onion Festival (Zibelemärit) – Held on the fourth Monday in November, this centuries-old festival in Bern began when farmers from Fribourg were invited to sell onions after a fire devastated their city. Today, the streets are filled with onion stalls, colourful braids, onion tarts, and sweets. There are playful traditions like children hitting each other with plastic hammers and enjoying onion-shaped candies during Advent

>> Christmas Markets – During Advent, nearly every Swiss town and city hosts a Christmas market. These festive gatherings feature handmade gifts, mulled wine (Glühwein), traditional cookies, festive lights, and music. Markets in Basel and Montreux are particularly well known, but even the smallest villages hold their own local celebrations, making them both social and community events.

>> Fasnacht – Switzerland’s Carnival season, known as Fasnacht, takes place in late winter or early spring, with Basel’s being the largest and most famous. The celebrations include masked parades, elaborate costumes, brass bands playing deliberately off-key tunes, confetti, and plenty of food. The roots of the festival include pagan traditions of chasing away winter spirits.

>> Sechseläuten – Unique to Zurich, this spring festival takes place on the third Monday in April. Guilds parade through the city before the ceremonial burning of the Böögg, a snowman effigy stuffed with fireworks. The speed with which the Böögg’s head explodes is said to predict the quality of the coming summer. The tradition dates back to medieval times when the arrival of longer daylight hours meant more leisure time after work.

>> Swiss National Day – Celebrated on 1st August, Swiss National Day commemorates the signing of the Federal Charter of 1291. It’s one of the few nationwide holidays, marked with farm brunches, lantern decorations, parades, and fireworks. Families often gather outdoors, and while traditional fireworks remain common, there are increasing discussions about alternatives like drone shows.

>> Walliser Kuhkämpf – In the canton of Valais, cows of the Hérens breed naturally engage in hierarchical battles. These are formalised into cow-fighting festivals throughout summer, culminating in a grand final in October at Martigny. The cows butt heads until one backs away, with little risk of serious injury. The champion cow is crowned “La Reine” (the queen).

>> Alpine processions – Each autumn, cows return from their high summer pastures in colourful processions. Farmers dress in traditional costumes, the cows are adorned with floral wreaths and large bells, and communities celebrate with food, music, and festivities. These processions vary by region and are sometimes paired with cheese festivals, where farmers share the season’s produce.

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> You can read a full transcript of this episode here.