Traditions and customs of the peoples of Switzerland. Culture of Switzerland -: Switzerland Switzerland culture

The peculiarity of the Swiss Confederation is that representatives of various nationalities coexist in this European state, and there are as many as three official languages. And the Germans, and the French, and Italians, and people from other countries brought their own unique features to the culture of Switzerland, which allowed the formation of unique customs and habits.

On the roof of Europe

One of the main attractions of little Switzerland are the huge mountains. The Alps occupy most of the country's territory, and historians have discovered that already in the Neolithic era, the first people inhabited the local foothills. The prehistoric pile houses in which they lived are one of the objects protected by UNESCO in Switzerland. The oldest settlements are located near Zurich. Meilena and Zug.
Another historically important object is located in the town of Ticino. The castle complex of Bellinzona was built on rocky peaks in the 4th century on the site of ancient Roman fortifications of the 1st century BC. The fortresses withstood the siege of the enemy many times and passed from hand to hand, and today the exposition of the Bellinzona Museum tells about the culture of Switzerland and its historical past.

Legacy of the monks

The culture of Switzerland is also its numerous monasteries built in cities and towns and villages. The mountainous landscape makes the landscapes of Switzerland especially attractive, while the old walls of the monasteries look like they have descended from a painting by a famous artist.
The monastery of St. John in the village of Grisons is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a well-preserved object, built in the 8th century by order of Charlemagne. The frescoes of the 11th century, made on various biblical themes, have been preserved in the building.

Festivals and fairs

In Switzerland, there is a certain cult of tourists who come to go skiing, wander through the old streets, gawk at the famous Swiss banks and taste the most delicious chocolate in the world. For the entertainment of guests and their own entertainment, residents organize festivals and fairs, where you can get to know the culture of Switzerland. The most famous and popular holidays:

• February Balloon Festival in Crans-Montana.
• Carnival in Basel in March.
• April farewell to winter in Zurich.
• Spring festival of daffodils in Montreux.
• "Cheese Trial" in September in Hasliberg.

The traditions of Switzerland are distinguished by originality and originality. Some of them arose so long ago that, perhaps, none of the living local residents can no longer say with certainty where this or that custom came from.

When meeting with friends, the Swiss kiss each other on the cheek three times. Greetings of unfamiliar people are limited to a simple handshake. The speech uses the most correct and neutral phrases, and a polite smile almost never leaves the faces of local residents.

The main feature of Swiss society is respect for privacy. In public places, strangers very rarely talk to each other - only in case of emergency. Politeness and kindness are highly valued here. The instructor on the track will never be rude, the controller in transport will not raise his voice, and in stores, customers and sellers can greet and thank each other several times a day at each visit.

The Swiss are very law-abiding, and if they see any violation, they consider it their duty to report it to law enforcement agencies. Private territory is also inviolable here.

Honesty and punctuality are the main features of the locals. Being late for a bus is a rarity, and an attempt to shortchange is a terrible crime.

The inhabitants of Switzerland are proud of their wealth and position, but at the same time it is quite easy to communicate with wealthy citizens of the country, since they always associate their wealth only with hard work and a sense of responsibility.

Relations between the "French" and "German" parts of Switzerland are far from ideal. Although the guest of the country most likely will not notice any conflicts, since the blood of culture will not allow such “collisions” to be put on public display.

If you are invited to visit in Switzerland, be sure to present a small return gift. Flowers to the hostess in this case will be a good gift. However, it is not recommended to choose chrysanthemums and white asters - they are considered "funeral" flowers. It is not customary to smoke in houses, and even on balconies.

When making a visit, you should be punctual, in addition, it is advisable to agree on the time of the visit in advance and try not to break it.

It is not recommended to talk about financial and property topics, as well as touch on issues related to relationships within the family. But politics, children, art and design can be discussed without any restrictions.

The Swiss love holidays, as well as various carnivals and festivals, where they dress up in carnival costumes and arrange processions around the city.

Interestingly, Christmas in Switzerland is not celebrated as pompously as in other countries. Usually on this day, the family is limited to a modest festive meal.

As in Russia, in Switzerland they celebrate the "old new year", that is, the New Year according to the old Julian calendar.

/ Culture of Switzerland /

Switzerland is an amazing country that carefully preserves its rich cultural heritage.. The main achievements of the Swiss fine arts of the Renaissance were associated with the first third of the 16th century, although the emergence of a new attitude to the surrounding world was already evident in the first half of the 15th century. The German artist Konrad Witz, who worked in Basel, in his altar painting created one of the first European landscapes depicting a specific area - the shores of Lake Geneva (1444) in the scene of a miracle. At the end of the century, a number of masters Friborg, Bern, Basel, Zurich in painting, still Gothic at the core, they turned to attempts to reliably convey scenes in the interior and against the backdrop of nature.

Switzerland has four world cultural monuments : Old Town of Bern, Bellinzona Castles, Monastery of St. Gallen and Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Müstair. UNESCO has also awarded the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region the status of a world natural monument. This region, famous for the extraordinary beauty of its landscapes, is the first and so far the only one in the Alps to receive such an honorary title.

Swiss Musical Arts heterogeneous in composition, since there are 3 languages ​​in the country: German, French, Italian. For multinational Swiss art, its connections with both German and Romanesque art (especially with French) are almost equally indicative. In musical folklore In Switzerland, its most typical genres include historical songs, shepherd tunes on alpine horns, some dance melodies (including the "bird polka") and yodels (chants characterized by the frequent use of falsetto).

The professional musical art of Switzerland originated in the early Middle Ages. A large center of its development was the monastery of Saint-Gallen, where in the IX-X centuries. sequences and tropes arose - new tunes that were inserted into the canonized set of chants of the Gregorian chant. The creator of the sequences was the monk Notker-Zaika (c. 840-912), the creator of the trails was his contemporary Tuotillo.

It is no secret that various Swiss artists, writers, musicians and scientists have received international recognition. The unique nature of Switzerland also inspires numerous famous artists and writers from other countries. Music stars such as Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, Phil Collins, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, and earlier Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Wagner have stayed or lived permanently in Switzerland, in addition, here brides and grooms can order a toastmaster for a wedding inexpensively for a fabulous and glamorous celebration. World famous scientist Albert Einstein created his theory of relativity while working in Bern. Conversely, many creative Swiss, such as the artist Paul Klee, the architect Corbusier, the sculptures of Alberto Giacometti from Grison, left the country and became famous abroad.

Culture and traditions

The versatility of Swiss culture is directly related to its geographical, administrative and political features. Traditions and customs in different parts of the country can be strikingly different from each other, depending on the origin and cultural roots of the population of a particular area. In fact, the culture of Switzerland is a mixture of all major trends and styles of art, which, however, does not detract from its charm and originality. On the contrary, multilingualism and an abundance of various national traditions create the most favorable conditions for a rich cultural life in the country.

In almost any Swiss city, there are always several museums, a theater and at least two orchestras - a symphony and a folk one. The Swiss treat all the attributes of folk art (tools, costumes, etc.) with extreme care, trying to safely convey all these values ​​to posterity. There are very few features of Swiss folk culture, but they are still there: Swiss wrestling, the art of playing the alpine horn and such an impressive singing genre as yodel.

In Switzerland, many holidays are celebrated annually: state, regional, local, folk, religious. Add to this numerous festivals, carnivals, creative competitions, fairs, sports competitions and other cultural events, many of which are known far beyond the borders of the country and attract a lot of tourists.
Each month of the year in Switzerland has its own festive schedule:

January
Like the inhabitants of most countries of the world, on January 1, the Swiss celebrate the New Year. This event takes place with the same noise, parties, fireworks and champagne.
January 2 is St. Berthold's Day, the founder of the city of Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
In addition, January is marked by the World Snow Festival in Grindelwald, the Gourmet Festival in St. Moritz, the International Ballooning Week in Château d'Eau, the Vulture Festival in Basel and the International Economic Forum in Davos.

February
Despite the winter season, it is in February that the Swiss arrange a series of carnivals, the origins of which lie in the deep Middle Ages. The stormy fun reigning during costumed processions is not hindered even by cold weather, forcing participants to make carnival costumes more insulated. One of the oldest traditional carnivals, "Basler Fasnacht", known throughout Europe, takes place at the end of the month in Basel. It ends with a spectacular procession with candles. February also pleases residents and guests of the country with the bear carnival in Bern (the very name of the city comes from the German Ber - “bear”), exciting winter horse races in St. Moritz and the World Money Fair international exhibition, the exhibits of which are coins and banknotes.

March
The first month of spring in Switzerland is also rich in cultural events. You can visit the international motor show in Geneva, the international exhibition of jewelry (including watches) in Basel, the youth carnival in Zurich, the international jazz festival in Bern, the classical music festival in St. Moritz, the extreme ski marathon in Engadins.

April
One of the main religious spring holidays is Easter. In Switzerland, many traditions are associated with it: hunting for painted eggs, Easter processions, decorating wells with flower garlands (an ancient custom of German origin), distributing wine, cheese and bread on the streets. In the middle of the month, Locarno hosts the Concert Spring festival, an exhibition opens in Lucerne showing ancient hunting weapons, in Montreux you can enjoy the atmosphere of the daffodil festival, and in Zurich there is a spring guild parade with dressing up in old clothes and burning an effigy symbolizing the image of winter .

May
In many parts of the country, May 1 is Labor Day, an official local holiday. In May there are also the Friborg Art Festival and the European Choir Festival in Basel. Religious holidays are also important: Ascension, Trinity, Spirits Day. In addition, Mother's Day is celebrated in May, which is highly honored in Switzerland.

June
June opens the summer series of musical celebrations and events. Many cities in Switzerland host concerts of various genres, open-air performances by well-known and little-known performers. The largest music festival, which marks the beginning of the concert season, takes place in St. Gallen. Other types of art are not forgotten. In June, the doors of the international exhibition "ART" open - an association of art galleries in the city of Basel.

July
The music season continues. Numerous rock and pop music festivals, performances by jazz and ethnic groups, outdoor concerts, the international church music festival in Friborg. There are also theatrical performances based on the plays of Schiller.

August
On August 1, the whole country celebrates the Day of the Foundation of the Swiss Confederation on a grand scale. This is an official holiday, introduced back in 1891, which is accompanied by solemn speeches, festivities, parades, fireworks and bonfires. The musical program continues in August. The annual Geneva festival is accompanied by concerts and numerous shows, and at the end of the month the international music festival in Lucerne takes over.
September
Autumn, according to the Swiss, is the most suitable time for fun and entertainment. In autumn, every event turns into a holiday. What are, for example, the solemn parades of cows, arranged in many mountainous regions of the country. The reason for this luxuriously furnished event is just the return of the cattle home from the summer pastures. In September, you can also join the city festival in Bern and the golf tournament in Crans-Montana (Omega European Masters).

October
October is famous for numerous fairs and celebrations dedicated to the harvest. Lugano hosts a wine festival - one of the most colorful holidays in Switzerland, associated with the end of the grape harvest. The celebration lasts for at least three days, all this time the doors of bars and cafes do not close, inviting guests. The program of celebrations invariably includes wine tastings and walks through the vineyards. In Lausanne, Animalia, a traditional pet exhibition, is taking place at this time, and Basel invites buyers to an expanded autumn fair.

November
The end of autumn is adorned with many musical events. Jazz festivals in Lausanne and Zurich, festivals of comedy, blues and classical piano music in Lucerne create an invigorating atmosphere and fill with wonderful impressions for all who are lucky enough to be there. And lovers of folk traditions will be pleased with other events of November. For example, a wine fair organized on Lake Zurich, right on board the ships. Or the famous onion market in Bern - a folk festival, accompanied by festivities and eating a variety of onion dishes.

December
Perhaps this month in Switzerland holds the lead in the number of holidays and events. In December, Geneva celebrates the "Fete de Escalade" for two days - a celebration dedicated to the anniversary of the battle for the independence of Geneva with the Duke of Savoy. It is accompanied by a magnificent historical ball in the style of the 17th century, costumed performances, flutists and drummers, processions with torches. December is also marked by the international arms exhibition in Lausanne, the ice sculpture festival in Saas-Fee and the traditional Christmas exhibition in Zurich, presenting exhibits from private collections.

Almost the whole of December passes under the sign of the approaching Christmas - the main and beloved family holiday. Starting from December 6 (St. Nicholas Day), Christmas markets open all over the country, numerous parades take place and active preparations for the long-awaited holiday begin. Children these days traditionally hang their socks in a prominent place and receive sweets as a gift. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. In every house there is always a decorated Christmas tree, a gala dinner is prepared, Christmas songs are sung, relatives and friends exchange gifts. Even the Swiss, who are not serious about religion, celebrate Christmas and attend church on its eve.

culture

Four languages, four cultures

The geographical position of Switzerland (the intersection of three European cultures: German, French and Italian) and multilingualism (the national languages ​​in Switzerland are German, French, Italian and Romansh) had a significant impact on the country's cultural heritage, the versatility and diversity of which can be seen in literature, art , architecture, music and folk customs.

In general, it is very difficult to say what Swiss culture is, since, say, a Swiss writer writing in German must also be a participant in the general literary process in the German-speaking world. Cantonal independence has led in Switzerland in the course of history to a certain bias in cultural development towards the dominance of regional cultural traditions.

Therefore, it would be more convenient to talk about "Swiss culture" (mainly regional folklore) and about the internationally oriented "culture from Switzerland" (all cultural forms, from painting and literature to rock and pop music, within which people with Swiss work passport).

Literature

The literary scene in Switzerland is very diverse. The most famous German-language writers of the 20th century are Robert Walser, Max Frisch, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Adolf Muschg. Among the Swiss writers there is also a Nobel Prize winner - Karl Spitteler. Blaise Cendrars is considered the most prominent representative of Francophone literature. The most famous literary character in Swiss literature is a peasant girl named Heidi, who lives in the Alps. This image was created by the writer Johana Spiri.

Museums and art

There are about one thousand museums in Switzerland: from small rural museums to world-famous museum complexes designed by outstanding architects (for example, the "Paul Klee Museum" in Bern or the "Tingley Museum" in Basel). Internationally recognized artists from Switzerland are, for example, Ferdinand Hodler, Max Bill, Alberto Giacometti, Daniel Spoerri.

Architecture and design

Recognized Swiss architects are Peter Zumthor and Mario Botha, and the architectural firms Herzog & de Meuron, Diener & Diener play an important role. Switzerland is the birthplace of the outstanding architect Le Corbusier, who made a huge contribution not only to urban planning, but also to furniture design. For over a hundred years, the state has been helping to protect the country's architectural heritage. There are about 2,000 cultural sites of national importance in the country.

Music

The musical palette of Switzerland is not limited to yodeling and alpine horn tunes, although folklore occupies a strong place in the cultural life of the country. Famous Swiss composer Arthur Honegger. Everywhere in Switzerland there are jazz festivals (the most famous - in Montreux), festivals of classical (in Lucerne) and pop music (St. Gallen, Bern), as well as concerts of foreign stars. The national musical creativity of Swiss pop and rock artists is very popular and in demand in all regions of the country, but little is known abroad.

Cinematography

Swiss cinema is also little known in the global film business, but it is in Switzerland that the winner of six Oscar awards, the famous producer Arthur Cohn, lives. Jean-Luc Godard, one of the great representatives of the French New Wave, spent his childhood and youth on the shores of Lake Geneva. The great Charlie Chaplin is also buried there. In Russia, the Swiss comedy film "Achtung, Fertig, Charlie" (in the Russian version - "Army Pie") received relative fame.

Theatre

Along with large theaters in Switzerland, there are a large number of small ones. The most prestigious theatrical award, the Hans Reinhart Ring, has been awarded annually since 1957 to an artist for his theatrical achievements in the Swiss theatre.

Traditions and customs

In Switzerland, national cultural holidays are of particular importance. A number of holidays are associated with historical events, for example, the Escalade holiday, popular in Geneva; other traditions have a religious basis. August 1st is the national holiday of the country. This day marks the beginning of the formation of the Confederation in 1291.