Hilari Day in Solothurn and surroundings, Switzerland
Hilari Day in Solothurn and surroundings, Switzerland is held on January 13. The Hilari is a fasnachtähnlicher custom. It is celebrated exclusively in the four villages Feuerthalen-Langwiesen, Flurlingen and Laufen-Uhwiesen along the Cholfirst in the north of the canton of Zurich. The Hilari is considered one of the oldest Carnival customs of the canton. This event in the second decade of the month January is annual. 
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Hilari Day has marked the beginning of the Fasnacht celebrations since the 17th century, and since 1853 the honour of heralding in Fasnacht on Hilari day has gone to the 'Narrenzunft Honolulu' (Honolulu fool's guild) with their carnival general assembly and subsequent Hilari procession.
The Solothurn Fasnacht begins on 13 January, the name day of Saint Hilarius. The Latin word 'hilaris', meaning cheerful or lively, gives an indication of the joyful celebrations that then follow. The head of 'Narrenzunft Honolulu' replaces the mayor, the Rathausgasse's former name of 'Eselsgasse' (donkey lane) is reinstated and Solothurn calls itself Honolulu until Ash Wednesday.
Similar holidays and events, festivals and interesting facts
Berchtold's Day or Berchtoldstag on January 2 (Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Alsace);
The second day of New Year on January 2 (a holiday in Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Mauritius, Montenegro, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine. New Year Holiday [Albania, Scotland], if it is a Sunday, the day moves to January 3);
Anniversary of the founding of the first Baptist church in Switzerland on January 21
Vaud Independence Day on January 24 (Switzerland. The canton of Vaud is the third largest of the Swiss cantons by population and fourth by size);
Chalandamarz in Switzerland on March 1 (is a traditional spring festival in Latin-speaking parts of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is celebrated on, and named for, the First of March - Calendae Martis - and marks the end of winter);
Republic Day in Neuchâtel, Switzerland on March 1 (It is a day off for the general population. In 1848, Neuchâtel which had been a principality, declared itself a republic and part of Switzerland);
World Day of Prayer on March 7