Switzerland (Basel) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day

Catholic or protestant : Christian remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Www.baselland.ch
calendar issued by the Ministry of Education
study programs are not aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 506
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
University of Basel ranking: Times Higher Education #98/QS ranking #149/Shanghai (2023) #81

We carry confirmed dates till Feb 2028; Further dates are projected dates based on previous years

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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Culture : At the end of the morning, on January 13, 20 or 27, a raft descends the Rhine with an unusual crew on board: two drums, two flag bearers, two gunners constantly firing salutes and the main character, the Wilde Mann (the savage) who brandishes an uprooted fir tree and hops, his gaze turned towards Petit-Bâle on the right bank of the Rhine. Downstream from the Mittlere Brücke (middle bridge), it is greeted by two other curious individuals: a lion wiggling on two legs and a bird with a large beak.

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Please check with www.fasnachts-comite.ch (in German) for a list of numerous festivities. It all begins with what is known as the Morgestraich. At exactly 4 a.m., all the lights in the city center go off. Out of the pitch darkness, the sound of drums and piccolos waft through the cold night air. Closer and closer it comes, and a faint light glows in the distance. Suddenly, there they are, coming from all directions, the musicians and marchers of the city’s Fasnacht cliques. Each wears a masks. Some have small lamps on their heads. They carry painted lanterns that mock things that happend during the past year.

School holidays :

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.