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

School holidays : one week earlier in Oberwallis (Haut-Valais)

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

Secular holiday : A derivation of Middle High German berhttac or berhteltac, which translated the Greek epiphanias

School holidays : Www.vs.ch
official Canton calendar
study programs are not aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 506
Average class size: less than 20
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required

We carry confirmed dates till Sep 2025; 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 : Tschäggättä: The origins of this tradition are unclear and several hypotheses are formulated: legends relating to brigands disguised as monsters, protest against the Valais policy in 1550 with disguises, temporary symbol of the return of the dead among the living or fight against the bad ones minds. We sometimes meet the term Roitschäggätta, King meaning smoke in the local dialect, due to the dark color of the masks which are hung in a fireplace to blacken them. [Wikipedia]

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant :

School holidays : In Romand only

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.