Swiss Holiday... NOT Father's Day

National holidays can tell you something of a nation's identity - how the people view themselves. Consider the romanticized version of the English Pilgrim's experiences in Plymouth, MA that Americans celebrate as Thanksgiving each November. Several commonly-held beliefs about those events are open to criticism or alternative interpretations, yet Americans choose to celebrate the day as one of religious freedom, family gathering, perseverance, unity, and other virtues. To an outside observer, though, it could very well appear to be a more exemplary of American consumerism than of American values (assuming, of course, you choose not to believe that excessive consumerism is not a core American value).

Another example is the fervent celebration of worker's rights on May Day (May 1st) in France and elsewhere. Unlike the US Labor Day, May Day is notably more politically charged, including many demonstrations, strong union presence, near universal observance across the country, and clear undercurrents of socialism and the extreme political left.

You can also tell something about a nation and its people by the holidays they choose not to observe. For instance, Father's Day. Switzerland does not celebrate Father's Day. The Swiss do observe a day to honor fatherhood of a sort and, not surprisingly, it is religious in nature. The closest equivalent to Father's Day in Switzerland is the Catholic observance of Saint Joseph's Day in mid March, the day they honor Joseph, the husband of Mary and adopted father of Jesus.

In my opinion, the reason a real Father's Day is not observed in Switzerland is telling of the nation's priorities. In my opinion, the Swiss honor mothers, but not necessarily women. What I mean is that this nation values women for their role as mothers, but not for much else. On the flip side, men are not primarily respected for their roles in parenting children, but in providing for their family and fulfilling their responsibilities to their communities. Of course, that is simply my opinion.

Happy Father's Day.