Basel Tradition — Salute to Saint Barbara

Saint Barbara is venerated as a patron saint of miners, prisoners, bell ringers, foundry workers, and weapon smiths, among others. The artillery has also chosen Saint Barbara as its patron saint. In Basel, the day dedicated to her—December 4, also known as St. Barbara’s Day—is celebrated with a number of different traditions in various countries, including holding a feast or cutting cherry tree sprigs that are brought into the house and placed in a vase so that they start blooming by Christmas. In Basel, the day is celebrated with particular solemnity. This is not surprising as the city boasts the first artillery association in Switzerland—the Cannoneers' Association, founded in 1834 (at that time also known as the "Kanonier-Kämmerlein"). Medieval depictions of Saint Barbara can also be found in Basel on a 14th century wall painting in the Theodorskirche, and more prominently as a statue on the Fischmarktbunnen (fountain) near Schifflände.
On this evening, Saint Barbara is honored with a 23-gun salute at 18:30 on the banks of the Rhein by the medieval St. Johanns-Tor. The Artillerie-Verein Basel-Stadt, the Basel-Stadt section of the Verband Schweizerischer Artillerievereine (VSAV), is the oldest artillery club in Switzerland and the oldest military club in the canton of Basel-Stadt, maintains the tradition of the Barbara salute shooting with a 7.5 cm field gun (built in 1903). The salute is open to the public and is part of Basel's history. If you are or live anywhere in the vicinity of this salute, you will find it to be quite a loud and impressive event!
Website
vsav.info/index.php/heilige-barbara/
Where
St. Johanns-Park
Elsässerstrasse 34
4056 Basel