I’ve noticed an interesting confluence of holidays celebrating their nation’s founding over the three countries where I focus most of my energy these days.

The United States celebrates its independence on July 4, France has its fête nationale in grand style on July 14, and Switzerland has its sole federally recognized national holiday on August 1.

I figured I’d dig into a little of the background on each of these holidays and how they’re celebrated to see where there’s overlap (if any).

Further, noticing the confluence piqued my curiosity about whether national holidays at midyear might be a worldwide phenomenon.

Let the research begin!

The United States: Independence Day or July 4th

On July 4th each year, the United States of America celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the colonies’ Second Continental Congress on that date in 1776.

This document and its ratification provoked war with Great Britain, which ruled the colonies at that time. (Though you probably don’t need me to tell you who won, the former colonies did.)

Different places in what we now know as the United States of America—Philadelphia, to start—began celebrating the declaration’s signing right away with an annual commemoration on the date in 1777 that they modeled after the colonies’ former celebrations of the English king’s birthday, with speeches and solemn processions.

In 1777, though, the country was still fighting for its independence from England—so we can’t really call it a national holiday yet. The nation didn’t exist until 1783. After the war, the holiday stayed an unofficial affair, though a growing number of cities and states began to celebrate it.

The U.S. federal government named July 4th an official national holiday in 1870. And yep, that’s nearly 100 years after the country formed. Let’s just figure they had other priorities in those early days.

How do U.S. Americans celebrate their national day? Mainly with cookouts and fireworks, though some areas have parades and concerts as well.

France: The Fête Nationale, 14th Julliet

The French celebrate their national day on July 14. Though, indeed, July 14 falls on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789—a major event seeding the French Revolution—the French do not call this “Bastille Day.” They call it the “fête nationale française” or the “14 julliet.”

Like the U.S., the French celebrated the 14 julliet the year after the storming of the Bastille fortress. However, the French republic did not yet exist as of that year; the French government was still a monarchy. Nevertheless, the monarchy celebrated the date to highlight the concessions it had made after the initial uprisings, to solidify the tenuous peace, and to unify the nation.

However, after the initial anniversary celebration, celebrations for the 14 julliet ceased. It was a one-and-done sort of affair, see.

Besides, the French Revolution was still underway and continued until 1799—a decade after the Bastille got taken by French revolutionary forces. Ten years of chaos, people.

The official French national celebration—as we know the 14 julliet today—didn’t kick off until 1880.

So how do the French celebrate their national day? They have a massive military parade down the Champs Elysées in front of the French president.

Switzerland: National Day, 1st August

The Swiss chose August 1 as a national day relatively recently, naming it as the country’s sole federally recognized holiday in 1994.

The country chose the date based on the belief that a document called the “Pacte de Rütli” was signed by three cantons in early August.

Switzerland doesn’t have a single major national-level “independence” event, like France and the United States of America do, so the date and the celebration feel a little more nebulous. In general, the date celebrates the founding of the Swiss Confederacy.

How do the Swiss celebrate their national day? Well, “the Swiss” as a group do not celebrate it, other than the President of the Swiss Confederation giving a national address that’s broadcast on radio and television. Each community chooses to celebrate (or not) as it prefers.

Mostly, from what I’ve seen, people in Switzerland have the day off work, which they spend at home relaxing with family and sometimes close friends. In the part of Switzerland where I live, around Lausanne, some of the towns and communities have modest fireworks displays, and I’ve heard some places have concerts.

National Holidays: A Summer Tradition?

Noticing that the United States of America, France, and Switzerland all have their national days within a month of each other prompted me to wonder if nations tend to split off and come together in grand style during midyear—if there’s not something about midyear that provokes great change, no matter the climate, which would be interesting—but it appears that elsewhere in the world, national holidays fall in entirely different seasons.

Nations all seem to have tried to choose dates for their national holidays that tie to some nation-affecting event—and these events appear to have happened year- and season-round. Browsing around through the linked list shows a surprising equalization of holiday distribution among seasons, with each season throughout the year having its fair number of national celebrations.

The height of heat (or cold, depending on your position on the planet), appears to make no difference to when a country has a nation-affecting event.

What’s Your National Holiday?

Where you live, do you have an official national holiday celebrating the founding of your country?

If so, when and what does it celebrate? And, most importantly for those of us who love celebrations (like me!), how do you celebrate it?

And if you have an unofficial holiday that serves the same purpose, I’m all ears!