Family trumps patriotism on National Day
Two-thirds of Swiss welcome the August 1 National Day as a chance to have a barbecue with the family or friends.
Only one in six intends to visit an official celebration – the same proportion that admitted wanting to set off fireworks, according to a GfK market research survey on Thursday.
The holiday is deeply rooted in the Swiss psyche, with 69 per cent of those asked associating it with August 1, and even more thinking of traditional fireworks and Chinese lanterns.
The survey found however that National Day's popularity is less to do with patriotism than getting a day off – even if it falls on a weekend, like this year and next.
Christmas remains by far the most popular occasion in Switzerland, followed by birthdays, the New Year and Easter.
GfK surveyed 1,000 people across Switzerland earlier this month.
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