At the residence of the ambassador of Switzerland to Qatar, Martin Aeschbacher, a sparkling ceremony was held on Saturday night, as the Swiss Business and Swiss Citizen Community celebrated the 724th anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation.
The 1st of August, since 1891, has been celebrated as Swiss National Day. The date refers to a historic alliance concluded in 1291 by the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. This alliance was to become the focal point around which the Switzerland of today was built over the next 500 years.
Members of the Swiss Business Council Qatar (SwissBCQ), Swiss Business Hub, the representing body of the Switzerland Global Enterprise, and Swiss Citizens living in Qatar, came together as part of a cheery gathering to celebrate the National Day of Switzerland.
The event hosted by the Swiss ambassador and the SwissBCQ also received a message from the President of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, who emphasised on the importance of the Swiss living abroad not only as part of the local communities but as Swiss citizens in a globalised world.
The celebration was attended by close to 50 Swiss businessmen, professionals and members of the Swiss community such as Dr Fariborz Samadian, President SwissBCQ; Abdallah Nassar, GM, Alfardan Jewellery; Markus Kraus, GM, Meliá Hotel Doha; and Urs Straub, Vice President, SwissBCQ, among others.
“The aim of the SwissBCQ is to support the development of the Swiss companies and Swiss professionals in Qatar by providing a suitable platform, business network as well as means to develop their businesses such as participating in various local business fairs, forums or business councils. The ultimate goal is to promote business opportunities from and for Switzerland,” said a SwissBCQ member.
While the Swiss National Day has been celebrated since 1891, it became a national holiday only in 1994. The occasion is celebrated exclusively within the communities – a radio or television broadcast by the President of the Swiss Confederation being “the only exception to this esteemed federal principle.”
According to a note on the day on the Swiss tourism site myswitzerland.com, communal celebrations comprise “solemn words spoken by a prominent public figure from political or cultural life, accompanied by a concert or choire, gymnastic presentations, and the community singing the national anthem.”
“Wealthy communities or tourist offices may also sponsor a display of fireworks. Bonfires, mainly on hills and other elevated spots, commemorate the expulsion of foreign bailiffs in the 14th century, the news of which were spread in this manner in those days.
“Children carrying lighted paper lanterns roam the streets at night. Public and private buildings are decorated with national, cantonal, and community flags, and the bakers produce special bread rolls with a small Swiss flag on top,” the note says.
At the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, a special kind of celebration takes place. “From mid-19th century onwards, the waterfall has been illuminated on special occasions. Since 1920, it has been illuminated regularly on August 1, and since 1966 exclusively so. On the same day, a magnificent fireworks display also attracts throngs of spectators to this special site,” the note says.