August 1st – fireworks

(click on image to enlarge)
August 1st is Switzerland's national independence day (over 700 yrs.), complete with fireworks, bon fires, food and celebrations.

We find a spot to sit overlooking our small village of Holderbank (600 people) and watch for fireworks which could come from anywhere in the town since most firework displays around Switzerland are shot from private homes and can be quite impressive (and costly!). In the left photo, you can see a large bon fire on the hillside and fireworks launched from a home across the street from where we live. The right photo also shows a bon fire on a nearby mountainside.