Colors of Bern - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

National holidays remain one of the main features of Bern. Each of them is distinguished by a large number of various traditions and customs. January 2 is the day when the locals celebrate day of St. Berthold (or the Foundation Day of Bern). Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen is considered the founder of the city. This significant event happened in 1191. In order to protect his possessions, the Duke decided to found a city on the bank of the river Aare. The name of the new city was also chosen by the Duke. According to an ancient legend, on the day of the city's foundation Berthold went hunting. He announced that the city would be named after the first animal he manages to hit. Thus, as the first prey of the Duke was a bear, the city got its name from the German word «ber» - a bear. Since then the bear has become the major national symbol. You can easily see its image on the coats of arms and other symbols.

The day of the city's founding is the time for mass festivities in Bern. As a rule, the celebration is accompanied by numerous performances, fairs and children's holidays. You will find numerous small stalls and coffee shops next to all main streets and squares of the city. These are the places where guests can warm up and drink delicious local beer. August 1 is the time for a no less vivid celebration - the national holiday of Switzerland. Of course, the brightest and most memorable holiday events take place in Bern – guests of the city will surely enjoy colorful parades, music concerts and fireworks. Festival of wine is, without a doubt, the most awaited and beloved event of the celebration. Tourists, who are lucky enough to visit the city on the day of the holiday, will be able to appreciate the scope and beauty of the national traditions in their full beauty.

Fresh rolls remain the main holiday festive food. You can get them in numerous outdoor cafes and bakeries of the city. In order to make the dish look even more festive and bright, the local chefs decorate them with small national flags. When night falls to the city, the locals kindle bonfires, around which festive activities continue until late at night. Then the night sky is lit up with thousands of sparkling lights – local residents of every quarter of the city and its suburban areas make magnificent fireworks. Swiss National Day is also one of the most beloved celebrations among children. According to an old tradition, each child should make a beautiful lamp in honor of the holiday. In the evening, when the locals go out to the city’s streets, these tiny lanterns can be seen literally everywhere. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Another event accompanied by mass festivities is held in late February or early March (the dates depend on the celebration of Easter). This is Bärner Fasnacht, during which colorful parades, local cuisine tastings, vernissages, costume contests, processions are held. The culmination of the festival is a concert of monsters in Bundesplatz. A fair opens on Rathausplatz where you can buy quite original souvenirs. The event can be visited free of charge, however, there are also paid shows - thus, in the Old Town of Bern you can buy a ticket to see what is happening on a VIP-scene.

Internationales Jazzfestival is held in late January. In total, over 200 concerts of jazz music and mixed genres - funk, soul, and blues - take place here during this time. The event is very significant on the world stage and welcomes thousands of jazz fans from around the world every year. This is partly due to the fact that among its participants (in particular, headliners of the festival) are eminent and popular bands and performers, some of whom were awarded Grammy. The venue of the event is Unique Hotel Innere Enge Bern.

The capital of Switzerland hosts a popular open-air festival, the name of which is Gurtenfestival. The genres you can hear range from punk rock to pop music. It's almost impossible to meet unfamiliar names among its participants, even among those who are not headliners. Therefore, needless to say, that in the middle of July Bern is visited by many tourists with a sole purpose of attending the festival. The venue is in Gurten Park.

Buskers is the name of a 3-day street music festival taking place in early August. Central streets of the capital's historic Old Town serve as a venue for the event. The event invites all fans of improvised performances to listen to high-quality music. Genres that can be heard here suit every musical taste. In addition, you can enjoy some colorful shows - dance, circus and theatrical performances, and a special puppet theater program is prepared for children. The event is completely free.

Connoisseurs of art visit the capital of Switzerland in mid-March when the European Night of Museums is taking place. At this time, many cultural institutions are free of charge throughout the night, as you could probably guess from the name of the European event. And the number of museums in the so-called City Of Fountains is large enough to consider this event significant. In early November, in Langenthal, a small neighboring town, there is a design exhibition. The festival is held every two years at six different venues in the city (It goes without saying that a unique program is prepared for each scene).

In mid-May, you can witness (or attend, of course) such a colorful sporting event as Bern Grand Prix. It is one of the country's largest marathons. Runners run through the Old Town, which means that besides being good for health, such an event still allows you to enjoy the beauty of the City of Fountains. And in the middle of June, there is another marathon - Swiss Women's Run Bern. Numerous ladies take part in the race and speed walking, and the city center is the primary venue. The event is positioned as a celebration for the whole family.

As for fairs taking place in the capital of Switzerland, Onion Market traditionally held on Bundesplatz at the end of November deserves special mention. Here you can meet its countless varieties, as well as dishes prepared from it, including onion pies, onion sauces, cheeses containing this vegetable. The festival ends with an action interesting for children - throwing confetti. In December, it's time for a Christmas fair in the Old Town. Everything reminds of a festive event - incendiary lights, Christmas singing, the smell of traditional Christmas dishes immerse you in the magical atmosphere. Major city markets are on Munsterplatz and Waisenhausplatz.