Switzerland Culture

The culture of Switzerland is influenced by neighboring countries, but through the years has developed a distinct and independent culture with some regional differences. In particular, French-speaking regions tended more towards the French culture. [90] In general, the Swiss are known for their humanitarian tradition as Switzerland was the birthplace of the Red Cross movement and houses Rights Council United Nations Human. Similarly, in German-speaking Switzerland are more oriented toward German culture, although the Swiss German speakers are identified strictly as Swiss because of the difference between High German and Swiss German dialects. In Italian Switzerland is perceived mostly Italian culture. [90] In short, a region has a closer cultural connection with the neighboring country that shares its language. The linguistically isolated Romansh culture in the mountains of eastern Switzerland strives to keep their traditions alive not only linguistic. [90]

Many mountain areas are highly connected with the cultures of winter sports and hiking in summer. [91] Throughout the year, some areas have a culture of entertainment to attract tourists, even in spring and summer, season quieter when there are fewer visitors and presence in Switzerland. A traditional culture of farms and crops was also prevalent in some areas and small farms are still omnipresent in the outskirts of cities.

In film, American productions constitute the vast majority of billboards, although several Swiss films have been commercially successful. [92] The folk art is kept alive by various organizations located throughout the national territory, where music is encouraged , dance, poetry, wood carving and embroidery. The Alpine horn, a trumpet made of wood, along with the yodeling and accordion, has become the international symbol of traditional Swiss music. [93]

Literature

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (born in Geneva) was not only a writer but also one of the most important philosophers of the eighteenth century.

As the confederation, since its founding in 1291, was composed almost entirely of German-speaking regions, the first literary works are in German. In the eighteenth century, French became the language of fashion in Berne and elsewhere, while the influence of the allied French and other territories was scoring more than before.

Among the classics of German literature are Swiss Jeremias Gotthelf (1797-1854) and Gottfried Keller (1819-1890). The two leading representatives of the twentieth century Swiss literature are Max Frisch (1911-1991) and Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990), author of Die Physiker (Physicists) and Das Versprechen (The Promise). [94]

The most prominent French-speaking Swiss writers are Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) and Germaine de Stael (1766-1817). More recent authors include Blaise Cendrars (born Frédéric Sauser, 1887-1961) and Charles Ferdinand Ramuz (1878-1947), whose novels describe the life of the peasants who inhabited the mountainous areas, in a decadent age. [94] Authors Italian and Romansh-speaking have also contributed to Swiss literature, but in a more modest.

Probably the most famous creation of the Swiss literature is Heidi, the story of an orphan girl who lives with his grandfather in the Alps, one of the most popular children’s books in the world that has become a symbol of Switzerland. Its creator, Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), wrote other works with similar themes. [94]

Media

Press freedom and free speech rights are recognized by the constitution of Switzerland. [95] The Swiss News Agency (SNA) transmits all day about politics, society, economy and culture in the three official languages. The SNA is the one that brings almost all the news about Switzerland, and several foreign news services collaborate with it. [95]

Historically, Switzerland has had the largest number of newspapers published in proportion to its population and size. [96] The most influential newspapers are the Tages-Anzeiger, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (both in German) and Le Temps (in French), but almost every town has its local newspaper. The country’s cultural diversity contributes to the publication of many newspapers. [96]

In contrast to print media, broadcasters have always been largely under government control. [96] The Swiss Broadcasting, whose name recently was changed to SRG SSR idée suisse, is responsible for producing and transmitting several national programs radio and television. Studies of the SRG SSR are distributed through different linguistic regions. Radio programs are produced in six core studies and four local studies, while television programs are made in Zurich (SF), Geneva (TSR), Lugano (RTSI) and Chur (RTR). A large cable transmission company also provides access to the Swiss population to programs in neighboring countries. [96]

Gastronomy

Switzerland’s cuisine is multifaceted. While some dishes such as fondue, raclette or rösti are present in every kitchen in the country, each region developed its own cuisine, culinary each zone coinciding with the different language areas. [97] The traditional Swiss cuisine uses ingredients similar to those other European countries, among other dairy products and cheeses such as Gruyere or Emmentaler, Gruyère produced in valleys and Emmental, where they take their names.

The chocolate is manufactured in Switzerland since the eighteenth century, but gained his reputation in the late nineteenth century with the invention of modern techniques such as conching and tempering, which helped to improve the quality of products. In addition, another Swiss breakthroughs in this industry was the invention of milk chocolate by Daniel Peter in 1875. [98]

The wine, mostly white, is mainly in the Valais, Vaud, Geneva and Ticino. The vineyards have existed in the area since Roman times, and even traces were found that could date back to earlier dates. The varieties produced are the Chasselas (called “Fendant” in Valais) and Pinot Noir. Merlot is the main variety produced in Ticino. [99]

Sports

Area ski on the glaciers of Lötschental.

Much of Switzerland’s most popular sports are winter sports. The skiing and mountaineering are very practiced in the country by both Swiss and foreign, as their snowy peaks attract climbers from around the world. [100] The country has hosted many world championships and winter sports tournaments, including two editions of the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, both in St. Moritz. Furthermore, Engelberg, it holds an annual test of World Cup ski jumping.

Like other Europeans, many Swiss are soccer fans and the country has its own national team, organized by the Swiss Football Association. Since the 1920s football became popular and began a period of boom in this sport in the country, which culminated in 1954 when Switzerland hosted the World Football Championship. After stagnating in the decades that followed, in the late 1990s, the national soccer team failed to qualify for the World Cup 1994, which the country regained interest in football. [101] Up 2009, the national team has played 8 World Cups, with the quarterfinals his best result. In 2008, Switzerland hosted the European Championship with Austria. Switzerland has participated in 3 European Championships where he has never passed the first phase. The main football competition of the country is the Swiss Super League.

Roger Federer is considered the best player in the history of the sport.

Many Swiss also are followers of hockey and support one of the 12 clubs in League A. In April 2009 Switzerland hosted the IIHF World Championship for the tenth time. [102]

Cycling is another sport that also has extensive advocacy and participation. In Switzerland, held a variety of cycling events like the Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie, in addition to that the country has hosted international championships like the World Championship Road Cycling. Among the leading riders are Swiss Fabian Cancellara, Tony Rominger and Alex Zülle.

Other sports have gained popularity in Switzerland include tennis, with players of the likes of Roger Federer and Martina Hingis, and figure skating, emphasizing the skater Stéphane Lambiel. In both sports the Swiss have won multiple tournaments and championships. There are also several other sports where athletes have been successful Swiss as fencing (Marcel Fischer), canoeing (Ronnie Dürrenmatt), sailing (Alinghi), kayaking (Mathias Röthenmund), volleyball (Sascha Heyer, Markus Egger, Paul and Martin Laciga), among others.

Spengler Cup in Davos.

Motor racing, motorcycling and other similar sports were banned in Switzerland after the disaster at Le Mans in 1955 with the exception of events like the mountain race. The ban was withdrawn in June 2007. [103] During this period, continued to emerge in several regions of the country several successful runners as Clay Regazzoni, Jo Siffert and corridor World Touring Car Championship Alain Menu. Switzerland also won the A1GP World Cup of Motocross in the 2007-2008 season, with driver Neel Jani. The Swiss rider Thomas Luthi won the 2005 MotoGP World Championship in the 125cc class.

Traditional wrestling.

Traditional sports include the fight called Swiss Schwingen, an ancient tradition of the rural cantons of central Mexico. [104] The variant is the Swiss Steinstossen the shot put, a competition where farthest throws a heavy stone. Practiced among the alpine population since prehistoric times, was popularized in Basel around the thirteenth century. The Hornussen is another indigenous Swiss sport, which is a mix between baseball and golf and is practiced mainly in the north of the country. [104