The Federal Charter (Bundesbrief) of 1291 opens with the words “In the year of the lord 1291, at the beginning of the month of August”. The Bundesbrief document unified three cantons in the area of modern-day Switzerland and is considered one of the country’s most important founding documents.
There are celebrations in communities all around Switzerland. In most cases, the official ceremonies include a prayer and the singing of the Swiss national anthem (the Schweizerpsalm). At 8:00 p.m. church bells ring throughout the country.
The Bundesfeier is a public holiday in all of Switzerland. Offices, banks, schools and businesses are closed. Public transport runs on a reduced schedule.
Many may not know, but Hua Hin has a huge Swiss Community and they weren’t about to let the 725th Swiss National Day go unnoticed. Although officially on August 1st, Swiss National Day was celebrated in Hua Hin on August 2nd to accommodate the schedule of Switzerland’s Ambassador to Thailand, His Excellency Ivo Sieber.
Two hu
ndred and six Swiss and friends of Switzerland, including 43 Rotarian’s, attended a raucous party held in the ballroom of the Marriott Hua Hin Resort. Organized by the Grande Dame of Hua Hin herself, Khun Lizzy, along with the Marriott Hua Hin Resort, it was a night filled with great friendship, food, entertainment and an abundance of wine.
The top VIP was of course the Swiss Ambassador who only the day before hosted a large Swiss National Day party at his embassy in Bangkok. Other guests of note included Khun Suvit Reanroogruang Past President of the Rotary Club of Hua Hin and Advisor to the Mayor, Mr. Andrew Elliot, Head of School, Da Vinci International School, Mr. Ari Parnanen, Public Relations, Da Vinci International School and Michael Kehnscherper, Board of the Tourism Association of Prachuap Khiri Khan (TAP) as well as the translator for the evening translating Thai, English and German.
Marriott G.M. Goetz Bauer, a proud Swiss himself, was away on holiday so the Marriott’s Director of Rooms, Alexander Schoell took to the podium to officially welcome all of the guests. The Marriott’s P.R. Executive, “Par Excellence,” Ms. Gina Sansoni, also Swiss, did her best to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves and felt welcome.
You can bet that the 726th Swiss National Day will be celebrated in Hua Hin next year and if it is even half as much fun as this year’s, you’ll want to be sure to mark it on your social calendar.