Page 3 - Celebrating Swiss Independence

Celebrating Switzerland’s Independence

The Dawn of Liberty.

Towards the end of the 13 century, the country was much smaller, comprising mainly of the forested area around
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Lake Lucerne. The people owed their allegiance to the Austrian Habsburgs (last rulers of the Holy Roman Empire).
Albrecht, the ruling king, was regarded as a tyrant who sought to crush the sturdy independence of the Swiss.
On the night of 1 August 1291, delegates from the three c antons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, met secretly at
the Rütli meadow overlooking the shores of Lake Lucerne, and swore an Oath of Allegiance to rid their country of

the Habsburgs. Here they formed the “Everlasting Alliance”, confirming the birth of an independent Swiss nation.

Rütli Oath (Rütlischwur) The Treaty (Bundesbrief)
Mural, Schwyz of 1291

Archives of the Federal Charters in Schwyz. The mural by Heinrich Danioth (1896-1963), features the
‘Rütlischwur’ (Oath of Rütli) sworn by representatives of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden
Christmas greetings card issued by the Swiss PTT in 1982

National Festival.
Each year, on 1 August, Switzerland celebrates its National Day, commemorating the event back in 1291 when
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independence was born. Celebrations for the National Festival (Bundesfeier) take the form of local folk festivals,
children’s lantern processions, large bonfires, especially on mountain tops, and, in recent times, fireworks.

In 1910 the Bundesfeier Committee received permission from the postal authorities to issue the first official postal
card with imprinted stamp. The card was sold at Swiss post offices, at face-value plus a surcharge for worthy
charities. From 1910 to 1937 the sale of these cards became the main contributor to the Bundesfeier funds.