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48-555: The Sechseläuten ( Zürich German : Sächsilüüte , "The six o'clock ringing of the bells") is a traditional spring holiday in the Swiss city of Zürich celebrated in its current form, usually on the 3rd Monday of April, since the early 20th century. Following the parade of the Zünfte ( guilds ), the climax of the holiday is the burning of Winter in effigy , in the form of the Böögg ,

96-466: A weekend day a substitute holiday may be recognised in lieu. In the United Kingdom the government website states that "If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a 'substitute' weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday.", and the list of bank holidays for the year 2020 includes Monday 28 December as " Boxing Day (substitute day)", as 26 December is a Saturday. The process of moving

144-544: A Pirate Day is observed on September 19, and Blasphemy Day is held on September 30. Other examples are April Fools' Day on April 1 and World No Tobacco Day on May 31. Various community organizers and marketers promote odd social media holidays . In the United States, holidays have been drawn into a culture of consumption since the late 19th century. Many civic, religious and folk festivals have been commercialised . As such, traditions have been reshaped to serve

192-465: A figure of a snowman prepared with explosives. The custom of burning a rag doll called Böögg predates the Sechseläuten . A Böögg (cognate to bogey ) was originally a masked character doing mischief and frightening children during the carnival season. The neighborhood association Zum Kratz has burned a Böögg each year, but originally the effigy represented some yearly disaster such as

240-568: A holiday from a weekend day to the following Monday is known as Mondayisation in New Zealand. National days are days of significance to a nation or nation state. National days are typically celebratory of a state's independence (e.g. 4 July in the US ), founding or unification (e.g. German Unity Day ), the commemoration of a revolution (e.g. Bastille Day in France) or liberation (e.g. 9 May in

288-507: A poor summer. In 2015, the head exploded quite quickly and it ended up being a very good summer. In 2016, the head exploded after 43 minutes and 34 seconds, setting a new record, which held until 2023. In 2017, the head exploded after 9 minutes and 56 seconds. A quick time and there was a good summer In 2020, Sechseläuten was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the head exploded after 12 minutes and 57 seconds. Sechseläuten

336-525: A tradition in some non-Christian countries. For many Japanese people , it has become customary to buy and eat fried chicken on Christmas. Recently invented holidays commemorate a range of modern social and political issues and other important topics. The United Nations publishes a list of International Days and Weeks. One such day is International Women's Day on 8 March, which celebrates women's achievements and campaigns for gender equality and women's rights. Earth Day has been celebrated by people across

384-599: Is a guild –like organisation in Zürich, Switzerland , not yet associated with the Zünfte of Zürich as of 2015. In medieval times, in Zürich all female and male Bürger were members of the guilds, but beginning in the 19th century women were no more tolerated within the guilds then more as decoration of their men being still members of the guilds of Zürich. The history of the Gesellschaft zu Fraumünsters dates back to

432-1236: Is a lesser Sabbat of the wheel of the year. Some are closely linked to Swedish festivities . The Baháʼí Faith observes 11 annual holidays on dates determined using the Baháʼí calendar . Jews have two holiday seasons: the Spring Feasts of Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Weeks, called Pentecost in Greek); and the Fall Feasts of Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles), and Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly). Some religious holidays are also celebrated by many as secular holidays. For example, 61% of Brits celebrate Christmas in an entirely secular way. 81% of non-Christian Americans also celebrate Christmas. A 2019 Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans still celebrate an at least somewhat religious Christmas. The claimed over-secularisation of particular holidays has caused controversy and claims of censorship of religion or political correctness . For example, in

480-412: Is indicative of the coming summer: a quick explosion promises a warm, sunny summer, a drawn-out burning indicates a cold and rainy one. The shortest time on record is 5:07 minutes in 1974 and the longest is 57:00 minutes in 2023. The roots of the festival go back to medieval times when the first day of summer working hours was celebrated in the guildhalls across the city. City ordinances strictly regulated

528-626: Is recognised in World War I Allied nations (and across the Commonwealth ) to memoralise those lost in the World Wars. National leaders will typically attend remembrance ceremonies at national memorial sites. Maybe surprisingly, World War II Armistice Day (and victory against Nazism ) day, on 8 May, is much less celebrated. Many holidays are linked to faiths and religions (see etymology above). Christian holidays are defined as part of

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576-495: Is the Lunar New Year , which is celebrated across East Asia and South East Asia. Many other days are marked to celebrate events or people, but are not strictly holidays as time off work is rarely given; examples include Arbor Day (originally U.S.), Labor Day (celebrated sometimes under different names and on different days in different countries), and Earth Day (22 April). If a holiday coincides with another holiday or

624-477: Is the first implication detailed that this article is concerned with. Modern use varies geographically. In North America, it means any dedicated day or period of celebration. In the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, holiday is often used instead of the word vacation . The celebration of the New Year has been a common holiday across cultures for at least four millennia. Such holidays normally celebrate

672-554: The Böögg didn't burn. In 1941 during World War II, no Böögg was burned as the field was used to plant corn. In 1942 it was again possible to burn the Böögg , but the field was not allowed to be stepped on as the field was used to plant potatoes. In 1943 the field was used to plant wheat, therefore the location of burning the Böögg was moved onto the dam in the port in Enge . In 1944

720-414: The Böögg was burned again in the port of Enge, but this time the Böögg fell into Lake Zurich as the construction was not stable enough. Some people then pulled the effigy out of the lake and at least threw his head into the fire. In 2007, the explosion of the Böögg ' s head took place 12:09 minutes after the pyre was lit, promising a medium warm summer. In 2008, heavy rains soaked the Böögg and

768-446: The Sechseläuten procession and Böögg burning, but neither do any steps to join the assembly of the Zürich guilds nor participate other activities related to Sechseläuten . The association organizes monthly meetings, and its members are involved in numerous cultural projects, among them the honor book for women, a silent memorial to all women who do extraordinary things in everyday life and shape society actively. Every three years

816-948: The United States , the word is used exclusively to refer to the nationally, religiously, or culturally observed day(s) of rest or celebration or the events themselves, whereas in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations , the word may refer to the period of time where leave from one's duties has been agreed upon and is used as a synonym for the US preferred vacation . This time is usually set aside for rest, travel, or participation in recreational activities, with entire industries targeted to coincide with or enhance these experiences. The days of leave may not coincide with any specific customs or laws. Employers and educational institutes may designate 'holidays' themselves, which may or may not overlap nationally or culturally relevant dates, which again comes under this connotation, but it

864-464: The influenza . The burning was also partially a protest against the demolition of the neighborhood Zum Kratz , which was accomplished around 1890. In 1892 the guilds then received the responsibility of burning the effigy, but now it no longer represented some disaster, but rather the winter itself, which is why the doll nowadays resembles a snowman . The combination of the Sechseläuten parade and

912-631: The liturgical year , the chief ones being Easter and Christmas . The Orthodox Christian and Western-Roman Catholic patronal feast day or "name day" are celebrated in each place's patron saint's day, according to the Calendar of saints . Jehovah's Witnesses annually commemorate "The Memorial of Jesus Christ's Death", but do not celebrate other holidays with any religious significance such as Easter, Christmas or New Year. This holds especially true for those holidays that have combined and absorbed rituals, overtones or practices from non-Christian beliefs into

960-518: The "Mittelalter Spectaculum" at the Münsterhof plaza is organized. Each year, the society honors posthumously female personalities with a plaque at their site of action in Zürich, and publishes a New Year's sheet. The Fraumünster society posthumously honors women who have provided outstanding professional services or social innovations in Zürich. The honoring take place on the morning of the Sechseläuten festival and are public. Whenever possible,

1008-512: The 1990s, Birmingham City Council promoted a series of events in the Christmas season under the brand Winterval to create a more multi-cultural atmosphere about the seasonal festivities. The Bishop of Birmingham responded to the events, saying "the secular world, which expresses respect for all, is actually embarrassed by faith. Or perhaps it is Christianity which is censored". In the United States, conservative commentators have characterised

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1056-656: The Channel Islands ), or the feast day for a patron saint (e.g. St Patrick's Day in Ireland) or ruler (e.g. 5 December in Thailand). Belgium's national day, on the 21st of July, commemorates the oath of office of the first King of the Belgians (an uncle of the then-future Queen Victoria ), i.e., so to say, the day Belgium became a kingdom by ending the initial interregnum . Every country other than Denmark and

1104-669: The Gregorian calendar except Israel . Christmas is a popular holiday globally due to the spread of Christianity . The holiday is recognised as a public holiday in many countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australasia and is celebrated by over 2 billion people. Although a holiday with religious origins, Christmas is often celebrated by non-Christians as a secular holiday. For example, 61% of British people celebrate Christmas in an entirely secular way. Christmas has also become

1152-608: The United Kingdom observes a national day. In the UK, constituent countries have official or unofficial national days associated with their patron saint. A British national day has often been proposed, such as the date of the Acts of Union 1707 (1 May) or the King's Official Birthday , but never adopted. Other days of national importance exist, such as one to celebrate the country's military or veterans . For example, Armistice Day (11 November)

1200-599: The abbesses of the Fraumünster abbey were members of the Constaffel . As of November 2014, expressly agreed by the guilds of Zürich, the Fraumünster society – still as guest , not as an official member – may practice Sechseläuten provisorily until 2022 , as also confirmed by the association ( Zentralkomitee der Zünfte ) of the Zürich guilds. Mrs Regula Zweifel, representative of the Fraumünster society, told in an interview on 6 November 2014, ″ ... after 25 years,

1248-490: The bells". Changing to summer working hours traditionally was a joyous occasion because it marked the beginning of the season where people had some non-working daylight hours. But initially the guilds were only responsible for organizing a parade, and not for burning the Böögg. Burnings of Böögg figures (the Swiss German term for " bogey ", in origin scary-looking ragdolls) in spring are attested in various places of

1296-412: The burning of an official Böögg was introduced in 1902. In that same year, the location of burning the Böögg was moved from the left to the right shore of Lake Zurich . The square where the Böögg was burnt was called Tonhalleplatz until 1947, when it was renamed into Sechseläuten Square. Popular tradition has it that the time between the lighting of the pyre and the explosion of the Böögg ' s head

1344-959: The burning of the Böögg was canceled due to high winds, although the parade and celebration took place. Additional events of the holiday nowadays also include: During this festival the popular march known as the Sechseläutenmarsch is played. It has no known composer but likely originated in Russia . With a few exceptions, the date is fixed to the third Monday in April. Dates are: [REDACTED] Media related to Sechseläuten at Wikimedia Commons 47°21′58″N 8°32′45″E  /  47.3661°N 8.5459°E  / 47.3661; 8.5459 Holiday Holidays can be thematic, celebrating or commemorating particular groups, events, or ideas, or non-thematic, days of rest that do not have any particular meaning. In Commonwealth English ,

1392-514: The celebration, as well as those holidays that distract from or replace the worship of Jehovah. In Islam , the largest holidays are Eid al-Fitr (immediately after Ramadan ) and Eid al-Adha (at the end of the Hajj ). Ahmadi Muslims additionally celebrate Promised Messiah Day , Promised Reformer Day , and Khilafat Day , but contrary to popular belief, neither are regarded as holidays. Hindus , Jains and Sikhs observe several holidays, one of

1440-459: The city from the late 18th and early 19th century, without direct connection to the Sechseläuten. From 1902 until 1951, the holiday used to be held on the first Monday following vernal equinox . On that day, the Fraumünster bell, for the first time in the year, tolled to mark the end of working hours at 6 p.m. (historically the time of sunset on vernal equinox ). The holiday was moved to

1488-506: The commemoration of the ending of World War II , or the Shoah , can also be part of the reparation obligation as per UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147 Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law. Another example of a major secular holiday

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1536-442: The guilds of Zürich allow the women of Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster to practice Sechseläuten, usually just being guests of the guilds respectively the Constaffel society, but still not being as an official guild in Zürich. In 2020 and 2021 the Sechseläuten parade was cancelled owing to COVID-19 pandemic ; 2020 was the first time in almost 100 years that it had not taken place. It returned as normal on 25 April 2022. In 2023,

1584-454: The head had burnt away completely, but leaving a large piece of the neck hanging from the stake. It was the explosion of that piece that ended this year's event. In 2012, it took 12 minutes and 07 seconds, and in this year there was some confusion if both firecrackers in the neck of the Böögg had exploded. It was determined that 12 min 07 secs was the mark. In 2014, the head exploded quite quickly (7 Minutes and 23 seconds) but it ended up being

1632-513: The largest being Diwali (Festival of Light). Japanese holidays as well as few Catholic holidays contain heavy references to several different faiths and beliefs. Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays follow the order of the Wheel of the Year . For example, Christmas ideas like decorating trees and colors (green, red, and white) have very similar ideas to modern Wicca (a modern Pagan belief) Yule which

1680-424: The last day of a year and the arrival of the next year in a calendar system. In modern cultures using the Gregorian calendar, the New Year's celebration spans New Year's Eve on 31 December and New Year's Day on 1 January. However, other calendar systems also have New Year's celebration, such as Chinese New Year and Vietnamese Tet . New Year's Day is the most common public holiday, observed by all countries using

1728-611: The late 9th century when the abbess of the Fraumünster Abbey (853 A.D.) in fact reigned the city of Zürich as Fürstäbtissin (imperial abbess) nominated by the king of the Holy Roman Empire , among them Katharina von Zimmern . Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster , being the society of the former noble women of the Fraumünster Abbey, was established in 1989. Now, the honorable women of the society cultivate

1776-401: The length of the working day in that era. During the winter semester the workday in all workshops lasted as long as there was daylight, but during the summer semester (i.e. starting on Monday following vernal equinox ) the law proclaimed that work must cease when the church bells tolled at six o'clock. Sechseläuten is a Swiss German word that literally translates into "The six o'clock ringing of

1824-646: The major festivals of two political poles of the society of Zürich has led to various interferences in the past, for example the abduction of the Böögg in 2006 by leftist "revolutionaries" a few days before the Sechseläuten . Since then, several Böögg s are held in reserve with the main one stored at a bank nearby the Sechseläutenplatz (the open area in front of the Opernhaus near Bellevue where most Zürich open air activities take place). Since 2010

1872-475: The needs of industry. Leigh Eric Schmidt argues that the growth of consumption culture allowed the growth of holidays as an opportunity for increased public consumption and the orderly timing of it. Thus, after the Civil War, as department stores became the spatial expression of commercialism , holidays became the temporal expression of it. Gesellschaft zu Fraum%C3%BCnster Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster

1920-482: The secularisation of Winter festivities as "the War on Christmas ". These are holidays that are not traditionally marked on calendars. These holidays are celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some promote a cause, others recognize historical events not officially recognized, and others are "funny" holidays celebrated with humorous intent. For example, Monkey Day is celebrated on December 14, International Talk Like

1968-640: The term can refer to any period of rest from work, such as vacations or school holidays . In American English , "the holidays" typically refers to the period from Thanksgiving to New Year's (late November to January 1), which contains many important holidays in American culture. The word holiday comes from the Old English word hāligdæg ( hālig " holy " + dæg " day "). The word originally referred only to special religious days. The word holiday has differing connotations in different regions. In

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2016-431: The third Monday of April in 1952. Because of the later date, and because of summer time introduced in 1981, the lighting of the Böögg' s pyre at 6 p.m. has now moved to several hours before nightfall. Additionally, because of its present date, the holiday is often within a week of 1 May, leading to a stark contrast between the upper class dominated Sechseläuten and the working class holiday of May Day . This proximity of

2064-491: The tug of war is finally over. The fact that we now have guest status at Sechseläutenplatz , is great. But it is only a first step ... ″ The association of guild members will, on occasion of an official ceremony, sign an agreement between the Fraumünster society and the so-called Zunftmeister's (literally: masters of the guilds ) in December 2014: as long as the agreement applies, the Fraumünster society may participate namely

2112-511: The virtuous habits of the former abbey by p.e. honoring the work of engaged women in the modern society. Beginning fifteen years ago, the society started to organize every three years the so-called Mittelalter Spectaculum , a medieval funfair, at the Münsterhof square. Since 2010 the guilds of Zürich allow to the women of the society to practice Sechseläuten , as guests of the Constaffel society, for historical reasons as until 1524 AD

2160-721: The whole executive council of Schwyz took part in the festivities. The Federal Councilors Viola Amherd , Elisabeth Baume-Schneider and the Presidents of the National Council and the Council of States Martin Candinas and Brigitte Häberli-Koller were also present. In 1921, the Böögg was burned early by a student instigated by communists. A replacement was found quickly though and the effigy could be burned again and as mandated. In 1923, it has rained too much, and

2208-492: The wood pyre materials so much that firemen had to spray the pyre with kerosene or fuel oil after initial ignition in addition to 15 liters of fire accelerant which was initially thrown on the pyre. It took 26:01 minutes for the Bööggs head to explode which indicates a poor weather summer.The fact that the head, instead of traditionally exploding, burnt down very quietly caused a lot of confusion. After approximately 20 minutes

2256-430: The world since 1970, with 10,000 events in 2007. It is a holiday marking the dangers of environmental damage, such as pollution and the climate crisis . Other secular holidays are observed regionally, nationally and across multi-country regions. The United Nations Calendar of Observances dedicates decades to a specific topic, but also a complete year, month, week and days. Holidays dedicated to an observance such as

2304-405: Was again cancelled but the Böögg was still burned. To avoid crowds that could spread COVID-19 the Böögg was relocated to Schöllenen Gorge in the canton of Uri and burned outside Zurich for the first time in its history. In 2023 the head exploded in 57 minutes exactly, setting a new record. This year the Böögg also bore a halberd in memory of Canton Schwyz which was the guest. In 2024

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