A YEAR OF FESTIVALS Spring begins with the riotous colour of carnival, probably the only occasion the Swiss truly let their hair down. The biggest is in Basel, where it’s a threeday holiday, starting with the pre-dawn ceremony on the Monday after Ash Wednesday. Many other towns celebrate in style, including Lucerne, Bern, Sion and Bellinzona. Summer is a time to relax and enjoy the lakes and mountains, so there are fewer festivals. But there is one big public holiday: 1 August, or Swiss National Day, which is marked by barbecues and fireworks. Autumn hosts the most famous of Swiss traditions, the return of the cows from the mountains. In many villages this is cause for celebration, with flower-bedecked cows being herded home to applauding crowds. This alpine descent of the cows can be found all over the country but popular ones are in Charmey (FR) and Schüpfheim (LU). Winter sees all manner of weird and wonderful events, mostly aimed at warding off evil spirits or celebrating the turn of the year.Wrap up warm and enjoy the spectacles of fire, ice and some really freaky costumes. 186 The Expert Guide Switzerland
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