Berchtold's Day

The next dates

• 2026Friday, 2 January
• 2027Saturday, 2 JanuaryWeekend
• 2028Sunday, 2 JanuaryWeekend

In which cantons is Berchtold's Day a holiday?

• 3cantonspublic holiday throughout the canton
• 3cantonspublic holiday only in parts or under conditions
• 1cantoncantonal rest day
• 2cantonscustomary day off
• 17cantonsnot a holiday

Origin

Berchtold's Day has been documented since the 14th century and is a day off mainly in Protestant areas. There, Epiphany was abolished after the Reformation, and 2 January remained as a second day off after New Year's Day. The origin of the name is uncertain. It is often linked to Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, who founded the city of Bern around 1191. The Schweizerisches Idiotikon, the dictionary of Swiss German, considers a Middle High German name for the feast of Epiphany more likely. In Zurich, the day is associated with the Neujahrsblätter: the Burgerbibliothek, the citizens' library, issued the first of these New Year sheets for the children of Zurich's citizens in 1645.

Sources: Wikipedia: Berchtoldstag · Peter Lang: Zürcher Neujahrsblätter 1645–1672

What the three types mean

Public holiday

Treated like a Sunday (Art. 20a Labour Act). Employees have the day off.

Cantonal rest day

Public rest day under cantonal law, e.g. shops are closed. Under employment law it is a working day.

Customary day off

Not a public holiday, but many employers give the day off. Your employment contract decides whether you are off.