Christmas Day Description
Christmas Day (Weihnachten, December 25th) is a nationwide public holiday across all Swiss cantons, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Government offices, banks, post offices, schools, and virtually all businesses are closed. It is a family-centered holiday — Swiss traditions include decorating the Christmas tree with real candles in some households, attending midnight mass or Christmas Day church services, and enjoying a festive meal that varies by region (fondue chinoise, roast goose, or Schüfeli — cured pork shoulder). Christmas markets in cities like Zurich, Basel, Montreux, and Lucerne are major attractions throughout December. Public transport operates on a heavily reduced Sunday/holiday schedule on Christmas Day itself, with many rural routes suspended entirely. Shops at major train stations (Zürich HB, Bern, Geneva) may remain open for limited hours. Christmas Eve (December 24th) is not an official public holiday, but many businesses close early in the afternoon by custom.
