Miscellaneous Sleigh rides and fountain wine at the turn of the year in Switzerland
The turn of the year on Tuesday is celebrated in different ways in Switzerland. While people in central Switzerland go sledging, people in Basel drink spiced wine from a fountain.
31.12.2024, 04:30
SDA
In Hospental UR, the traditional New Year's Eve sledging takes place on December 31. According to the organizers, sledge hire and bar service start at 8 pm at Löwenplatz. At midnight, everyone gathers on the village bridge to ring in the New Year with fireworks and a free Cüpli.
In contrast to the numerous Silverster parties in the city, the sounds on Münsterplatz in Basel are more contemplative. The tower music of the Stadtposaunenchor plays at 11.30 pm in the gallery of the Georgsturm. The year is rung out with singing together.
Fireworks over the lake
The people of Zurich celebrate the turn of the year at the lake basin. Once again this year, the New Year's Eve magic takes place with market stalls and festival restaurants - with up to 150,000 spectators. At 11.40 pm, the church bells in Zurich city center ring out the old year for just under 20 minutes.
The highlight of New Year's Eve in Zurich is then the quarter-hour fireworks display, which lights up the night sky over Lake Zurich at 00:20. Shortly before this, all the lights around the lake basin are extinguished. The official end of the New Year's Eve magic is at three o'clock in the morning.
New Year's Eve is also celebrated in western Switzerland. As every year, a traditional fireworks display takes place on the Quai Gustave-Ador in Geneva. Concerts, DJs, bars and food trucks are also on the program.
A silent disco will be held at the Bô Noël Christmas market in Lausanne. Visitors can dance to the sounds of their choice with the help of headphones. In Veysonnaz VS, a torchlight descent takes place on a ski slope, and in Biel/Bienne BE, visitors can skate into the night on the Place de l'Esplanade.
Spiced wine from the town fountain
The Golden Star Guild from Basel invites you to an unusual custom. On New Year's morning, for once it is not water but the sweet spiced wine Hypokras that flows from the fountain pipes on Freie Strasse. After a speech by the guild master at the Dreizackbrunnen fountain, the public is invited to fill up and toast at 11.00 am. This "Neijoors-Aadringgede" takes place for the 29th time and goes back to the Basel guild tradition of toasting with a cup of hypocras at the beginning of the year.
In the city of Lucerne, fireworks will light up the evening sky on January 1 at 8.15 pm. The "New Year's Magic" is financed by Lucerne's hotels and Lucerne Tourism. According to the organizers, the best view of the fireworks is from the pier and along the lakeside promenade.
