Culture 
Popular customs and festivals in Switzerland
Select your Region:
Basel Region (5)
Bernese Oberland (0)
Central Switzerland (9) Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein (7) Fribourg Region (3) Geneva (Region) (1) Graubünden (3) Lake Geneva Region (1) Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura (4) Schweizer Mittelland (4) Ticino (2) Valais (2) Zurich (Region) (4)
Richterswil (Zurich (Region))
In the Canton of Zurich, and more recently in other regions of German speaking Switzerland, processions which feature decorated, hollowed out fodder beets containing a lighted candle have become customary.
Winterthur (Zurich (Region))
The festival of St. Alban's in Winterthur is somewhat exceptional since it is based on an historical event but has only recently been instituted.
Zürich (Zurich (Region))
On the second weekend in September each year, about 4'000 Zurich boys, ages 12 to 16, (and since 1991 girls too) take part in a marksmanship contest. They use a modern rifle like the one they will later be issued in the army.
This Zurich spring custom got its unusual name from the fourteenth century custom of ringing a Grossmünster bell at six o'clock in the evening to proclaim the end of the summer semester working day. The first ringing of the bell provided a good opportunity for a small springtime celebration.
