Popular customs and festivals in Switzerland

During carnival time, when everything is "upside down", the town of Solothurn changes into Honolulu - since a witty fellow once claimed that the town on the River Aare was exactly on the other side of the globe from Hawaii. This idea is still maintained.

Every three years, the city of St.Gallen in Eastern Switzerland celebrates its children's festival as a traditional city event in which most of the people participate. The festival originated in old school customs celebrated on St. Gregory's Day, in memory of Pope Gregory I.

In the country town of Sursee in Canton Lucerne, a well known custom is celebrated. It is unique within Switzerland and thus attracts crowds of spectators.

The early history of the Swiss Confederation is marked by a series of decisive battles in which the alliance formed in 1291 had to be defended.

The Landsgemeinde is an original form of Swiss direct democracy and a unique event of its kind in the world. On a specific day, the citizens entitled to vote gather under the open sky to elect their government and courts, and to decide about laws and financial matters.

The carnival custom celebrated in the towns is more recent than the one observed in the country. In Bellinzona, for example, it goes back as far as the 1860s.

The tradition of the Urnäsch Silvesterkläuse, a custom over 200 years old, has developed from simple begging in disguise into an expression of creative handwork. Today, the Kläuse wear robes and masks which require a great deal of time and effort to make.

August 1, 1291 was the day representatives from the three original cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden met together on the Rütli, a meadow overlooking Lake Lucerne, and swore lasting allegiance to one another. The Swiss Confederation was born.

Cow fights take place throughout the region in which the Hérens breed has its home (Central Valais, Lower Valais, Valle d'Aosta in Italy). More than any other breed, these small black cows with short, sturdy horns have retained the instinct to organize themselves into a social hierarchy.

On Thursday of the last full week before Christmas, the children of the town of Weinfelden in Canton Thurgau parade through the streets with their decorated fodder beets, which have been hollowed out and furnished with a lighted candle.