Swiss School Holidays
In Switzerland, the school year begins between mid August and the first week of September. There are several school holidays as well as national holidays that are observed by schools across the country. Private school holidays may differ from the public school system holidays, however. The main school holidays are autumn break, Christmas break, half term break, spring break, Easter and summer break, with some variations depending on the region.
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Jeune Genevois
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Jeune Genevois is a holiday practiced in many parts of Switzerland in remembrance of plagues and hardships overcome by the people of Europe. During this holiday people fast and give thanks for what they have. The school holiday falls on one day between September 8th and the third Sunday of September each year.
Autumn Holiday
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The Autumn Holiday is an approximate two-week break from school that falls between the end of September and the end of October each year. There are no nationally recognized holidays celebrated at this time. It is recognized by schools.
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Christmas/New Year Holiday
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The Christmas and New Year Holiday are celebrated near the end of each year between December 20th and January 7th of the new year. During this time, school is not in session for two weeks in all parts of Switzerland.
Half Term
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Half term, commonly referred to as "sports break" due to the popularity of hitting the slopes during this five-day school vacation, is a regularly recognized school holiday in which students are out of school between the changing of term 1 and term 2. Half term takes place during February or March each year, depending on the school.
Spring
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Depending on where in Switzerland school is attended, spring break is celebrated at different times of the year, falling anywhere between April and May and lasting from one to two weeks. Not all areas in Switzerland recognize this holiday. Some extend a long two-week Easter holiday instead of having an official spring break.
Easter
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For regions which do not roll together spring break with the Easter holiday, there is a separate school holiday for Easter or Passover. The schools are out of session mid to late April in recognition of these holidays.
Summer Holiday
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Summer holiday is the the time between each school year when schools are closed. In Switzerland, summer holiday begins in the first part of July, providing students with time off school for about two months until school resumes.
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References
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