Berchtoldstag

{{Short description|Swiss and Liechtensteiner holiday}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name = Berchtoldstag

| type =

| image = Bern-BerchtoldVZahring.JPG

| imagesize =

| caption = Berchtoldstag

| official_name =

| nickname =

| observedby = Liechtenstein, parts of Switzerland

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| significance =

| begins =

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| scheduling = same day each year

| date = 2 January

| frequency = annual

| duration = 1 day

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}}

Berchtoldstag (also Bechtelistag, Bächtelistag, Berchtelistag, Bärzelistag, in Liechtenstein Bechtelstag, Bechtle) is an Alemannic holiday, known in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is near New Year's Day, during the Rauhnächte, in Switzerland nearly always on 2 January (in Frauenfeld on the third Monday in January), with the status of a public holiday in a number of cantons (AG, BE, FR, GL, JU, LU, NE, OW, SH, SO, TG, VD, ZG, ZH). Its observation is attested since the 14th century, although celebrations were limited after the Protestant Reformation.

Various theories exist concerning the holiday's name. Blessed Berchtold of Engelberg Abbey died circa 2 November 1197, and the abbey could have been important enough to translate his feast out of advent. According to others, it celebrates a hunting trip circa 1191 by Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, who decided to name his new city after the first animal he killed on that trip, hence Bern, Switzerland.{{cite web|url=http://everydaysaholiday.org/berchtolds-day-switzerland/ |title=Berchtold's Day – Switzerland |accessdate=2014-01-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102213301/http://everydaysaholiday.org/berchtolds-day-switzerland/ |archivedate=2 January 2014 }} Another theory associates the name with the verb 'berchten', which means "to walk around, asking for food".{{Cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/switzerland/berchtold-day|title = Berchtold Day in Switzerland}} The name may also relate to Perchta, mythological or folkloric female guardian of animals, and sometimes leader of the Wild Hunt, since Twelfth Night traditions even in the Spanish Pyrenees can feature visits from a transformed human/animal. The most likely explanation is offered by the Schweizerisches Idiotikon that considers it derived from Middle High German berhttac or berhteltac, which translated the Greek epiphanias.Schweizerisches Idiotikon [http://www.idiotikon.ch/Register_alt/faksimile.php?&band=12&spalte=962 Berchtelenstag; vol. XII 962–968, with note] and [http://www.idiotikon.ch/Register_alt/faksimile.php?&band=4&spalte=1538 Berchta, berchtelen; vol. IV 1538–1539, with notes]. Indeed, Berchtoldstag especially occurs in Protestant regions where Epiphany has been abolished and replaced by a second day-off after New Year's Day.

In the German-speaking cantons of Zurich and Thurgau as well as some parts of Central Switzerland, families celebrate the holiday with meals at pubs or offered by traditional societies. The Argovian village of Hallwil holds a mask parade with entries symbolizing fertility, age, ugliness, wisdom, vice, etc.{{Cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/switzerland/berchtold-day|title = Berchtold Day in Switzerland}} In the French-speaking Vaud, children celebrate Berchtoldstag with neighborhood parties which include folk dancing and singing.{{Cite web|url=https://chroniclesnews.com/2022/01/01/berchtolds-day-mask-parade-and-children-festival-in-switzerland/|title = Berchtold's Day Mask Parade and Children Festival in Switzerland}}

Nuts are associated with this holiday. They are both eaten in a "nut feast" and used for games.{{Cite web|url=http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/switzerland/berchtolds_day.php|title = Berchtolds Day in Switzerland in 2022}} Children build "hocks" of four nuts close together on the ground with a fifth nut balanced on top.Henderson, Helene, and Thompson, Sue Ellen, ed. "Berchtoldstag." Holidays, Festivals and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. Vol. 2. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1997.