Switzerland, also known as the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country.Switzerland has often been called the land of snow, chocolates, banks, and watches. Keep reading to learn some of the most intriguing facts about this country.This Swiss confederation is nestled in western Europe and shares its borders with five countries. The neighboring countries are Austria, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Italy. Most of Switzerland is covered by the Alps, and a majority of the Swiss population lives on the plateau between the Alps and the Jura mountains.Bern is the capital of Switzerland, while Zurich is the largest city. Most tourists enter the country through the Zurich airport. Its biggest claim to fame is probably the Swiss army knife. But the Swiss army knife wasn’t made in Switzerland but rather across the border in Germany!The country may be small, but there are many things that set it apart from the rest of the European countries. Apart from Vatican City, Switzerland is the only country to have a square flag. It has a white cross against a red background. The Swiss flag is often confused with the flag of the Red Cross.People And Society In SwitzerlandThe citizens of Switzerland are known as Swiss. Here are some interesting facts about the people and society of this country.Immigrants from foreign countries make up a large portion of the Swiss population. Almost half the foreigners in Switzerland are ethnic groups from France, Italy, Germany, and Portugal.Switzerland has one of the highest GDPs in the world as compared to other European powers. It is a stable, prosperous economy and considered the most competitive in the world.It also boasts the highest European rating for Economic Freedom as per the 2010 Index of Economic Freedom.With less than 20% of the population being categorized as obese, Switzerland is one of the least obese countries in Europe.Switzerland is an expensive country to live in. Zurich is considered to be the third most expensive city in the world. However, job security, economic stability, and higher salaries allow Swiss citizens to live quite comfortably.There are four official languages, German, French, Italian, and Romansh. German is spoken in the north, east and central parts of Switzerland, French is spoken in the west, and Italian is spoken in the south. Romansh is the least spoken of the country’s national languages.Learning at least one of the official languages is mandatory in Swiss schools, and hence most people are bilingual.The Swiss population has the second-highest life expectancy in the world. The median age of the population in Switzerland is growing steadily, and the country has the highest percentage of men and women over the age of 100 years in Europe.Swiss people love yacht racing. It is a popular sport in Lake Geneva.All men in Switzerland between the age of 18 and 44 years must serve in the Swiss army for a minimum of 245 days. This is one of the few countries in western Europe where military service is still mandatory after World War II.Did you know the Swiss are prepared for a nuclear war?Many people living in Swiss cities own guns. After completing their mandatory military service, Swiss law states that people must take their pistols or assault rifles with them.Switzerland has the highest gun ownership rates, but it also has a low rate of gun-related deaths and one of the lowest crime rates in the world.Pet dogs are allowed everywhere in Switzerland. Dog owners must follow strict rules, and all dogs must be microchipped.Another interesting rule is if you have a guinea pig, you must have a pair!Education is highly prioritized and is very affordable. Social sciences and humanities are the most popular streams for higher education. At the same time, vocational training and apprenticeship are also emphasized.Along with milk chocolate and Swiss cheese, Swiss people consume large quantities of beer, wine, and alcohol.Mythology And Folklore In SwitzerlandSwitzerland has many myths and stories, and some are even popular worldwide. Here are a few myths and folklore of SwitzerlandWilliam Tell is the most well-known folklore in Switzerland. He is considered a local folk hero who was challenged to shoot an apple resting on his son’s head. He shot the apple successfully and went on to assassinate a tyrannical reeve and incite a revolution. William Tell is an important character in Swiss patriotism.There are many myths in Switzerland associated with bears. In the seventh century, an Irish missionary is believed to have encountered a hungry bear. The Swiss missionary gave the bear some bread in exchange for which the bear helped him build a hut that would eventually become the St Gallen monastery.Arnold Winkelried is a fictional character believed to have aided the Swiss army in their fight against Austria’s Duke Leopold III. According to legends, when the army could not cross the Austrian pikes, Winkelried threw himself against them and forced an opening by martyring himself. The Swiss army did win the war in the end.When St Beatus was searching for a place to meditate in the first century, he walked into a cave occupied by a fire-breathing dragon. St Beatus slew the dragon and made the cave his own. While all that remains of the dragon is the story, the cave still stands in the Beatenberg mountain of Switzerland.The entire population of Switzerland has used the myth of the Kindlifresser to get children to behave. The Kindlifresser is believed to be a brother of the erstwhile Duke Berchtold. A statue depicting him and his scary behavior stands in Bern, terrorizing children till today.Gargantua is a Swiss giant who is associated with myths across the Alps in Switzerland. According to one story, as he tried to cross over a ridge north of the Aosta valley, he slipped and brought down part of the ridge with him. All that was left was a tall triangular peak that is now known as the famous Matterhorn in southern Switzerland. It is one of the most photographed sights in southern Europe.Did you know Switzerland has a red cross network that supports national search and rescue operations?Mythical Creatures In SwitzerlandEvery country has its share of mythical beings and creatures, and Switzerland is no different. A few such mythical creatures are listed here.Barbegazi is a small white creature with enormous feet and a long beard. You might see one in an avalanche. He is believed to ski on his feet, and if you get lost, a Barbegazi might help you out. They are also believed to help shepherds around their flock.On the other hand, Frost Giants living on the peaks of the Alps are notorious for their destructive behavior. They’re often portrayed as giants with long beards made up of icicles. They are believed to freeze anything that comes too close to them, but when the weather in Switzerland turns warm, they melt into puddles.Jack-of-the-Bowl is a helpful house spirit in the Swiss plateau. Farmers believe that in return for a bowl of sweetened cream left out for him at night, Jack-of-the-Bowl will guide their cows to grazing pastures that are otherwise quite dangerous for men. The path used by him is known as Boliéta’s Path.The Tatzelwurm or Stollwurm or Stollenwurm is a lizard-like creature in Switzerland that has the face of a cat and four short legs. The creature is believed to attack with a hissing, high-pitched sound, and a poisonous breath.Schmutzli is believed to be a companion of Saint Nicholas in Switzerland. While St Nicholas leaves gifts for good children, Schmutzli leaves switches for bad children. In parts near the Swiss border with France, he is also known as Père Fouettard or Father Whipper.The Basilisk popularized by Harry Potter has been a mythical creature in Switzerland for a long time. It’s pictured as a small dragon with a cockerel’s head and a snake’s tail. Local legends in Switzerland say that a basilisk can kill with just one glance and the only way to kill it is to make it look at its own reflection.The Dwarfs of the Swiss Alps are described as happy, helpful men who rear cattle and make a special kind of cheese. When you cut a slice of this cheese, it magically grows back! The dwarves are often picturized with long white beards, red caps, and green cloaks. While they are most helpful, dwarves can be vengeful with their pranks if they’re mistreated or insulted.Jura is a frog that wears a red collar. Local myths say that there was once a boy in Switzerland who did not go to school to collect wood for his mother. He came across Jura being threatened by a bird and took the frog home. The frog was transformed into a beautiful young woman in return for his kindness.Family, Kinship, And Marriage In SwitzerlandFamily size is small in Switzerland, with most comprising of one or two children. Most families also have a pet.The United Nations has said that Swiss women are the oldest in the European Union to have their first child. On average, Swiss men marry at the age of 31 years, and Swiss women marry when they are 29 years old. The average age for women in Switzerland to have their first child is 30.4 years.Childcare is shared by families, with mothers taking on the most responsibility. The demand for daycare exceeds availability, and women are often left balancing their professional lives with taking care of children.In Switzerland, parents cannot give children a name that may harm their future. Naming children after places and brands is forbidden. Biblical names of negative characters such as Judas and Cain are also prohibited.Children in Switzerland are encouraged to be independent at an early age. Even newborns are expected to sleep in their own room and adapt to their parents’ schedules. When they start going to school, they often travel unaccompanied.Family structure in Switzerland has turned nuclear, but kin groups still provide a lot of mutual support, especially in times of illness and financial difficulty. The high life expectancy in Switzerland often means that people look after their grandchildren and parents simultaneously.Inheritance in Switzerland is determined by kinship proximity. The surviving spouse has first priority, and children inherit equal shares.Swiss learning is based on play rather than focusing on reading and writing. For the first few years, the focus is on developing pre-literacy skills. Kindergarten is not mandatory.Families in Switzerland often turn to alternative therapies, homeopathy, and herbal teas to soothe ailments. Fennel tea is a common Swiss remedy for indigestion, while a sore throat may be treated with sage tea.Swiss TraditionsThere are quite a few traditions celebrated and followed in Switzerland.In Switzerland, doing any kind of work on a Sunday is frowned upon. This is not just limited to the office but also work around the home; no hammering, no mowing, no washing clothes.Did you know the use of the Swiss flag for commercial purposes is illegal?Every January since 1979, a nine-day hot air balloon festival has been organized in the Château-d’Oex. People travel from across Switzerland to see balloons in the shape of special characters and take hot air balloon rides. A night show is also organized.The Alpine Cow Descent is an annual event at the end of summer in September. Farmers dressed in traditional Swiss costumes bring their cattle wearing enormous cowbells and floral headdresses into the villages of Switzerland. There’s live music, food stalls, and market stands throughout the day.Sechselauten is celebrated in Zurich to mark the coming of Spring. Guild members parade through the city in their traditional uniforms on foot and horseback.The roads are flanked by locals who wait with flowers. These flowers are presented to guild members they admire. The procession ends in the city’s main square, where a bonfire with fireworks and the effigy of a snowman is lit.Schwingen is a traditional form of Alpine wrestling in Switzerland. The schwingers are clothed in shorts and must lay their opponent on his back to win a bull, with matches often taking place in the alpine meadows across Switzerland. The sport has become so popular that it is considered the de-facto Swiss national sport.Basel Fäsnacht is another annual Swiss tradition centered around Spring. Celebrations begin at four in the morning in Basel with a procession led by drums and the piccolo and the lighting of lanterns.The festival continues for three days with colorful parades, dances, and traditional ‘Guggenmusik.’ The Basel carnival, as it is also known, is so famous in Switzerland that it is protected by UNESCO.Christmas celebrations in Switzerland start on December 6. Santa visits the children, but he carries mandarins, cookies, nuts, and high-quality chocolate rather than gifts. These are distributed to children based on their behavior throughout the year.The children also make up short rhymes and poems about Christmas and Santa to get more goodies. Christmas gifts in Switzerland come much later and are brought by Christkind.Swiss culture puts a high emphasis on recycling. Switzerland leads the world in waste management and recycling.Organic and recyclable waste is separated while the rest is converted into energy. The country aims to phase out nuclear power and provide only CO2-friendly electricity.Räbeliechtli is a winter celebration in the parts of Switzerland that speak Swiss German dialects.In early November, children carve lanterns out of radishes and walk and sing their way through the villages with these lanterns. This Swiss tradition is rooted in Nordic culture.
Switzerland, also known as the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country.
