The story begins in 1291. Three communities - Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden - met in a meadow called Rütli, beside a lake, and promised to look after each other. That promise is the moment Switzerland is said to have begun. The country's name, in fact, comes from one of the three communities: Schwyz.
On 1 August, the high peaks of Switzerland are lit up by hundreds of bonfires. The tradition began long ago, when people used signal fires to send news from one mountain to another. Today the fires are lit purely for the celebration - one bonfire on each peak, blazing in the dark.
Children in many Swiss towns walk in evening parades carrying paper lanterns with the Swiss cross cut out of them, so the candle inside shines through the shape. Lots of communities hold concerts, picnics in parks, and free sausage barbecues. Lots of houses fly the Swiss flag - a white cross on a red square.
The Swiss flag is one of only two square flags in the world (the other is the flag of Vatican City). Almost every other country's flag is a rectangle. The cross stands for friendship and helping each other, not for any religion. The red cross of the Red Cross charity is based directly on the Swiss flag - just with the colours swapped.