Federal Fast Monday

The next dates

• 2026Monday, 21 September
• 2027Monday, 20 September
• 2028Monday, 18 September

In which cantons is Federal Fast Monday a holiday?

• 1cantonpublic holiday throughout the canton
• 1cantoncustomary day off
• 24cantonsnot a holiday

Origin

Federal Fast Monday follows the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer. A first joint day of prayer was held on 8 September 1796; in 1832 the Diet set the third Sunday in September for all cantons. The Monday after is a day off in Vaud and Neuchâtel. In French-speaking Switzerland, people traditionally eat plum tart (gâteau aux pruneaux) on this weekend.

Sources: Canton de Vaud: Jeûne fédéral · Canton de Neuchâtel: Le Jeûne fédéral

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.