The Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer or Swiss Federal Fast in Switzerland
The Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer or Swiss Federal Fast in Switzerland is held on September 21. It is celebrated on the third Sunday in September. The subsequent Monday - Lundi du Jeûne - is a public holiday in the canton of Vaud and unofficial holiday in the canton of Neuchâtel. This event in the third decade of the month September is annual. 
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If you visit Switzerland during this period, don't be surprised to see most shops closed and the streets eerily empty. It is an interfaith feast observed by Roman Catholic dioceses, the Old Catholic Church, the Jewish and Muslim congregations and the Reformed church bodies as well as other Christian denominations. In Geneva, the tradition is to eat plum pie.
Originally, days of thanksgiving and prayer were sporadic and only on the canton level. Later, in 1831, a permanent, federation-level day was established on 8 September. The date was eventually moved to the third Sunday in September, except in Geneva, which retains the old date.
Similar holidays and events, festivals and interesting facts
Knabenschiessen in Zürich City on September 13 (second Weekend in September + half Monday after);
St. Mauritius Day or Mauritiustag in Appenzell Innerrhoden and Solothurn on September 22 (Switzerland. According to legend, Mauritius came from Syria. He commanded a Roman legion, which consisted mainly of Christians.);
Saint Nicholas of Flüe Day in Obwalden, Switzerland on September 25 (Saint Nicholas of Flüe was a Swiss hermit and ascetic who is the patron saint of Switzerland. He is sometimes invoked as Brother Klaus);
National Coffee Day in Switzerland on September 28
Roche Holding Day on October 1
St. Leodegarius Day in Lucerne, Switzerland on October 2 (the role of Leodegar as patron saint of Lucerne. The festival of St. Leodegar is also considered a guardian angel festival, although there is no direct connection between the saint and the faith in guardian angels);
International Nonviolent Communication Day on October 6
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