Eps 2: Switzerland culture
The Swiss culture is distinguished by its diversity, as the country lies at the crossroads of several outstanding European cultures.
Over time and with the increase in tourism, some local customs have achieved national fame.
Nowadays Switzerland can boast with highly preserved and living traditions, as well as local customs.
Host
Beth Cunningham
Podcast Content
Swiss culture is therefore characterised by a variety of traditional customs that reflect this diversity. There are a number of local customs that have gained national fame, such as the traditional costume of the canton of Basel and the traditions of the mountains, valleys and lakes of Switzerland.
In the early 14th century, the region around the Gotthard Pass became the nucleus of the Swiss Confederation and in the 16th and 17th centuries, the centre of political and economic power in Switzerland.
Today, the mountain regions in Switzerland have a strong skiing and mountaineering culture and are associated with folk art such as alpine horn yodelling. The inland nation between Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Lichtenstein has always been a centre of cultural diversity, characterised by neighbours on both sides, and yet uniquely Swiss. Other Swiss cultural icons are the Alps, the Swiss Alps and the mountains of the Swiss National Park Alps.
Chocolate and cheese may come to mind as one of the most abundant offerings, but Switzerland is also known for its high-quality cheeses, wines and wines. Switzerland is a pioneer in the fields of technology, energy and sustainability, and is also a world leader in energy efficiency and renewable energies, as well as in health and environmental protection.
The Swiss are also known for their long-standing humanitarian tradition, as Switzerland was the birthplace of the Red Cross movement and host of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Many UN bodies, including the International Criminal Court, the World Health Organisation and the European Union. The country continues to shy away from military matters which are clearly seen as a threat to human rights and international peace and security in the Middle East and Africa.
Swiss musicians play on the alphorn, a traditional musical instrument, on the main street of the village of Gruyere. In Switzerland, folk art, which expresses itself in the form of folk music, dance, music and traditional dance forms, is a bestseller. Traditional farming and shepherding culture also dominates in many areas, and small farms are ubiquitous in cities.
The culture of the small Alpine nation of Switzerland was strongly influenced by the cultures of other countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Austria, France and the United States. Swiss traditional costumes are versatile and vary from canton to canton, slightly or strongly.
Since the 16th century Protestantism has had a strong influence on the visual arts of Switzerland. Carving is a popular craftsmanship in Switzerland and is used to decorate objects for everyday use.
Switzerland has long been a country of farmers and has a considerable art collection. Switzerland's speciality is the production of a wide range of agricultural products such as wheat, barley, oats and wheat flour. Famous Swiss products are known for their high-quality wheat and barley products as well as for the quality of their meat.
Switzerland, founded on the convergence of the four major European languages, is called Confoederatio Helvetica and is the only country in the world with its own national language. Switzerland even became the home of its elite "Swiss Guard," which even guards the Pope in Vatican City.
The most prominent factor is the fact that Switzerland is ethnically homogeneous, with Germanic tribes predominant in historical accounts. The second key factor concerns the natural boundaries created by mountains, rivers and forests, which separate regions. This is often used to appease the speakers of the languages and to link the Celtic routes of the country with the Helvetti tribes that came into contact with the Romans.
When you visit Switzerland, you will find references in many national languages and in the history books of Switzerland in German, Italian and French. Switzerland has four main languages: German is the most common and popular of all languages and the language of choice for the majority of people. The most common language in the northern, eastern and central parts of the country is German, but there is also Romansh, spoken in southern and eastern Switzerland and in some regions of central and southern Switzerland as far as the Alps.
Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports in Switzerland, which is not surprising since the Swiss Alps cover three to five percent of our landmass.
Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in a variety of customs and traditions. We have over 100 festivals celebrating different aspects of life, such as music, dance, art, music and sport. Sometimes it is traditional Swiss wrestling or stone putting, in which a person lifts a huge stone and throws it as far as he can.