September 1st: Unsolicited sales calls from insurance carriers are banned

If you are tired of all the unsolicited (‘cold’) phone calls trying to persuade you to switch your coverage to this or that insurance company, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

That’s because from September 1st, health insurance brokers will no longer be allowed to call a person who has never been insured with a particular company, or who has not been insured there for 36 months, trying to sell them a policy.

September 1st: Reference rate for rents will be released

The Federal Housing Office (BWO) publishes the so-called ‘mortgage reference interest rate’ which also determines rents, four times a year.

It will do so again on September 1st.

Currently the rates stand at 1.75 percent. They are unlikely to go up, given current favourable economy, but could drop.

September 1st: Laurel shrubs are banned in Switzerland

These popular shrubs, omnipresent in public spaces and on private properties alike, will no longer be permitted as they are considered an invasive species that threatens biodiversity. 

From September 1st, it will be illegal to sell or buy these bushes (and even less so, plant them) and the existing ones, in public and private areas alike,  will have to be pulled out.

September 2nd: Gotthard tunnel reopens to rail traffic

The route was mostly closed after a train derailment on August 10th, 2023 damaged significant portions of the tunnel.

On September 2nd, this strategic north-south axis will fully reopen for all InterCity and EuroCity trains, as well as all freight trains between German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino.

Passengers will once again be able to travel from the north to the south of Switzerland with a journey time reduced by one hour, and for the first time, every half hour throughout the day.

September 6th to 9th: Knabenschiessen

On this day, the hills around Zurich will be alive with the sound…of gunfire.

That is Zurich’s largest public festival, Knabenschiessen, which means ‘shooting boys’ in English, (though these days it includes plenty of girls as well and, you guessed it, none of them are actually shot). 

It is also the world’s largest youth rifle competition (after all, rifle-wielding kids are not exactly a common sight in every country) where youngsters from 12 to 16 years of age demonstrate their shooting skills — a wholesome activity by Swiss standards.

This tradition, which goes back to the 17th century, is organised by the City of Zurich Rifle Association.

September 5th and 15th: Geneva and Federal Days of Thanksgiving

Unlike in North America, where Thanksgiving is celebrated in the fall (October in Canada and November in the United States), the Swiss version — minus the turkey — is marked on the third Sunday of September.

Known as known as Eidgenössischer Dank-, Buss- und Bettag in German, Jeûne fédéral in French, Digiuno federale in Italian, and Rogaziun federala in Romansh, the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer is celebrated all over Switzerland, with the exception of Geneva, which has its own comparable holiday, le Jeûne genevois, celebrated this year on September 5th.

The following Monday, September 16th — is also a public holiday throughout the country, except in Geneva.

September 21st: Wages demonstration

Trade unions, political parties, and various associations are organising a massive rally in Bern on this day, to demand higher pay for Switzerland’s employees.

September 22th: Referendum

Two issues will be submitted to a popular vote on September 22nd, 2024.

The first, and the less contentious of the two, is the vote “For the future of our nature and our landscape (Biodiversity Initiative).”

It calls, as its name suggests, for increased funding to preserve the country’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

The second issue —  the second-pillar (LLP) pension ‘reform’ — is far more controversial, as it would entail cutting the retirement benefits by several thousand francs a year.

READ ALSO:  What’s at stake in Switzerland’s federal referendums on September 22nd? 

Sometime in September: SBB to equip transport police with bodycams

The body-worn video cameras, to be introduced in September, are intended to de-escalate conflicts, ensure the safety of passengers and employees, and record evidence of infractions, the national rail company (SBB) said. 

Each patrol will be equipped with at least one bodycam and over 200 police officers will be deployed throughout Switzerland in public transport areas and on trains.

The SBB is also reminding passengers that anyone who observes “a situation that is detrimental to safety,” on a train or in a station, should contact the transport police on number 0800 117 117.

September 22nd: Autumn begins

The so-called Autumnal Equinox marks the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

In Switzerland, it will officially kick off at 8:44 am on this day.

It is too early to know ahead of time what the weather will be like once autumn officially begins, but after a summer with some extremely hot spells, most people are probably looking forward to sunny but cooler days.

READ ALSO: Seven events in Switzerland you shouldn’t miss in September 202