Federal Day of Thanksgiving
Guide to the date, history, cultural origins and celebration traditions of Federal Day of Thanksgiving in Switzerland.
History & Origins of Federal Day of Thanksgiving
The Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer (Jeûne fédéral) is an interdenominational Christian holiday in Switzerland, observed on the third Sunday of September. Historically dating back to the late 16th century, it was established by Swiss cantons as a day of collective prayer, gratitude for peace, and repentance in times of political strife, famine, or plague.
How It Is Observed & Celebrated
Swiss families observe the day with reflective church services, hiking in the autumn mountains, and baking traditional plum tarts (tarte aux pruneaux), which are historically associated with the day.
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