1st of August nostalgia at the FDFA

Today is 1 August, a date that's become synonymous with tradition and... nostalgia. In fact, the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (fr, de, it) notes that 'nostalgia' was long considered a uniquely Swiss affliction – also known as 'mal di Svizzera', 'mal de la Suisse' or 'Schweizerheimweh' – attributed to an intense longing for one's distant homeland. So with Swiss National Day upon us, we here at the FDFA couldn't help but wonder: what do the Swiss living abroad miss most about home? Let's see what Swiss ambassadors around the globe had to say. 

According to historical records, Swiss naturalist and physician Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672–1733) posited that 'nostalgia' was a physiological phenomenon caused by an increase in atmospheric pressure. His argument was that the Swiss were falling ill in the lowlands abroad because they were accustomed to high altitudes. Quirky scientific theories aside, a yearning for mountains and crisp air is indeed one of the things mentioned by ambassadors abroad in the video below. But that's not all they're missing – fresh bread, cheese and even the Switzerland-wide GA travelcard also made the list. Some are pining for entire cantons, too. And there's their family and loved ones, of course. 

As a Federal Councillor, one has the duty (and pleasure) of celebrating Switzerland several times over in various locations. And sometimes even in advance, as was the case for Mr Cassis during his mid-July trip to Latin America. He was the first Swiss foreign minister in history to make an official visit to Costa Rica and, by extension, the first Federal Councillor to celebrate 1 August in San José. His speech paid tribute to the Swiss who settled in Costa Rica in the late 19th century, in La Suiza District of Cartago Province. Legend has it they abandoned this spot after just a few years, opting for the surrounding highlands with a climate more akin to the Swiss mountains.

Swiss National Day in Costa Rica, official speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, 15.7.2024 

A few days later, however, the Head of the FDFA conveyed his best wishes for the national holiday to the Swiss community and all the FDFA employees involved in the ‘Maison Suisse’ set up for the Olympic Games.

Swiss National Day in Paris, address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, 30.7.2024

As far back as the 18th century, conventional wisdom held that returning to the mountainous homeland was enough to cure 'nostalgia'. So for Mr Cassis, a 1 August sojourn in the mountain village of Guarda, Lower Engadine, where he delivered his Swiss National Day address, was the perfect place to go after his trip abroad. Speaking in Romansh, Italian and German to the people of this small Graubünden town, famed as the setting of the beloved A Bell for Ursli children's story, Mr Cassis highlighted the importance of the diversity of languages and cultures. Switzerland is often called “Willensnation”, because we do not have a linguistic or cultural corset that naturally holds us together. On the contrary: we speak, think, write, laugh, love and dream... differently. But we form one nation. What is more: we only exist because of each other. This plurality must be taken care of.”

Swiss National Day in Guarda, official speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, 1.8.2024

Swiss National Day in Sessa, official speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, 1.8.2024

Let's wrap it all up with a last nod to history. Switzerland's National Holiday hasn't always been an annual occurrence. It's only been celebrated yearly since 1899. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland reminds us that it was the Federal Council that called on the cantons to ring the bells each 1 August, spurred in part by appeals from Swiss expats who, seeing the national day celebrations of the locals around them, wanted a festive Swiss day to call their own. Over the years, bonfires, Swiss decorations and official speeches became mainstays of the celebrations. At home or abroad, our ambassadors all agree: the best way to beat nostalgia for Switzerland on 1 August is with a toast, wherever you are: a toast to new and native traditions, for a Happy Swiss National Day!