Editing Culture of Switzerland

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[[File:Alpabzug 2019 in Elm (GL, Switzerland).jpg|thumb|Farmer families, dressed in traditional clothing, guiding cattle down from the [[Swiss Alps]]]]
[[File:Urnaesch Alter Silvester 3.jpg|thumb|[[Silvesterklaus]] in [[Urnäsch]]]]

{{Culture of Switzerland}}

[[Switzerland]] lies at the crossroads of several major [[Culture of Europe|European cultures]]. Three of the continent's major languages, [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]] and [[Italian language|Italian]], are national [[languages of Switzerland]], along with [[Romansh language|Romansh]], spoken by a small minority. Therefore, Swiss culture is characterized by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs. The [[Cantons of Switzerland|26 cantons]] also account for the large cultural diversity.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/ Swiss culture]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529180423/http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/ |date=2013-05-29 }}. ''swissworld.org''. Retrieved on 2009-12-01.</ref>

Not withstanding the regional disparities, the [[Alps]] have played an essential role in shaping the history and '''culture of Switzerland'''.<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/swissness/mountains_and_hedgehogs/ Mountains and hedgehogs]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106194335/http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/swissness/mountains_and_hedgehogs/ |date=2009-11-06 }}. ''swissworld.org''. Retrieved on 2009-12-01.</ref><ref>[http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FCSS%2FCSS40_04%2FS0010417598001686a.pdf&code=f5973a22cda752eed69390f92ddf4fcd In Search of Natural Identity: Alpine Landscape and the Reconstruction of the Swiss Nation], Oliver Zimmer, London School of Economics and Political Science.</ref> The region of the [[Gotthard Pass]] became the nucleus of the [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederacy]] in the early 14th century. Nowadays, all mountain areas of Switzerland have a strong skiing and mountaineering culture and are associated with folk arts such as the [[alphorn]] and [[yodeling]]. Other Swiss cultural icons include [[Swiss chocolate]], [[Swiss cheeses and dairy products|Swiss cheese]], [[watch]]es, [[cowbell]]s, [[Banking in Switzerland|banking]], and the [[Swiss Army knife|Swiss Army knives]].
[[File:Telldenkmal.jpg|thumb|Although there is reasonable doubt whether [[William Tell]] ever lived at all, the legend itself had a great impact on the history and culture of Switzerland<ref>[http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/william-tell-switzerland-hero.html The Legend of William Tell] geschichte-schweiz.ch. Retrieved on 2009-06-24</ref> (statue in [[Altdorf, Uri|Altdorf]]).]]

==Folk arts==
{{Main|Swiss folklore|Alpine culture}}
[[File:Alphorns Grindelwald.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Some of the traditional symbols of Switzerland: the [[Swiss flag]], the [[alphorn]] and the snow-capped [[Alps]]]]

Folk art is kept alive in organizations all over the country. In Switzerland, it is mostly expressed in [[music]], [[dance]], [[poetry]], [[wood carving]] and [[embroidery]]. There are also many regional and local rites demarcating times of the year. Yodeling, despite being stereotypical for Switzerland, is not widespread and is limited to only some mountain areas. The same is true for the [[accordion]], which is sometimes called by the name ''Schwiizerörgeli'', implying that it was a Swiss musical instrument, rather than the German ''Handorgel''.

The alphorn, or the alpenhorn, is a trumpet-like musical instrument made of wood.  The use of the alphorn is seen mainly in mountainous regions, can be very popular in some areas, and like yodeling or the accordion, it has become an emblem of traditional Swiss music.

The melodies of folk music vary between regions. Generally those in pastoral areas are floating and wide-ranging. In the inner and southern Alps, however, the melodies are more songlike, and of more limited range. Common and popular themes are about love and the homeland, but patriotic and pastoral themes, as well as hunting themes, are also commonplace.

[[File:Unspunnen 1808-300.jpg|thumb|left|[[Unspunnenfest]] in 1808]]
The Alpine folk culture is characterized by very expressive dances. Small musical ensembles can be found in the more mountainous areas, particularly in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

The most common form of woodcarving is [[chip carving]]. Such carving is normally for the decoration of everyday objects, such as milk stools, neckbands for bells, wooden spoons, or walking sticks. Figure carving is also common, particularly of Nativity figures. In some areas, the façades of houses are richly decorated using woodcarving. This is widespread in the [[Bernese Oberland]] region where [[Protestantism|Protestant Christianity]] predominates. In Roman Catholic regions, this is far less common.

Embroidery is common on traditional clothing, particularly women's clothing. Embroidery is often limited to prominent points, such as cuffs, hats and scarves. Embroidery is also used for the decoration of fabric. In the past, embroidery was a home industry in the northeast and the east of Switzerland. Nowadays, embroidery is confined to tourism, as traditional clothes are no longer in use.

On certain autumn nights, children's processions with lanterns are common in Alemannic Switzerland. Lanterns (called ''{{lang|gsw|Rääbeliechtli}}'' "turnip light") are hand-carved from root vegetables, generally [[turnip]]s, by removing the interior and putting a candle inside. The ''[[Räbeliechtli]]'' is carved with designs such as the traditional sun, moon and stars.  The lantern is then suspended by three chains. The children walk through the streets of their town with the lanterns and sing traditional songs. The custom originates with thanksgiving traditions at the end of harvest in November.<ref>{{cite news|last=Plättner|first=Anya|title=Rääbeliechtli, wo gaasch hii?|url=http://www.fricktal24.ch/Jugend.103+M5c40cd5d609.0.html|access-date=6 February 2012|newspaper=Fricktal24.ch|date=15 November 2006}}</ref> This tradition is very similar to the tradition of carving turnip lanterns for halloween in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man (where they call halloween [[Hop-tu-Naa]], and have traditional songs), and parts of England and Wales. There the celebration is on 31 October to celebrate the eve of the Celtic New Year.

==Architecture==
[[File:Kloster Einsiedeln Frontansicht.jpg|thumb|[[Einsiedeln abbey]]]]
{{main|Architecture of Switzerland}}
{{See also|Style Sapin|Swiss chalet style}}
There is a strong architectural tradition in Switzerland. The Romanesque style of the 12th century can be found in the cathedrals of [[Basel Minster|Basel]], [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]], [[Chur Cathedral|Chur]], [[St. Pierre Cathedral|Geneva]], [[Grossmünster|Zürich]] and [[Münster Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]]. This style, which is rich in expression, can also be found on many castles and fortresses around the country, many of which preserved in a good condition. The cathedrals of [[Lausanne Cathedral|Lausanne]] and [[Bern Minster|Bern]] are in the Gothic style, and the churches of [[Einsiedeln Abbey|Einsiedeln]] and [[Abbey of Saint Gall|St. Gallen]] are in the Baroque style.

During the [[Renaissance]], a large number of architectural masters gave their talents to [[Italy]]. Most of these came from the southern canton of [[Ticino]]. The Prisons near the ''Doge's Palace'' in [[Venice]] and the [[Rialto Bridge]] in [[Venice]] were built by [[Antonio da Ponte]]. The ''Bridge of Sighs'' in Venice was built by [[Antonio Contino]], and [[Domenico Fontana]] (1543–1607) designed the entire ''Lateran Palace'' in [[Naples]] as well as the façade of the ''St. John Lateran Church'' and the ''Royal Palace'' in the same city. Fontana's nephew [[Carlo Maderno]] was an architect to Pope [[Paul V]]. ''San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane'', the gallery of the ''[[Palazzo Spada]]'' and the ''Filippini monastery'' were built by [[Francesco Borromini]], and [[Carlo Fontana]] was responsible for the façade of ''San Marcello al Corso'' and the ''Montecitorio Palace''; Baldassare Longhena, from Maroggia, built the church of ''Santa Maria della Salute'', the ''Rezzonico'' and the ''Widmann'' palaces; all in [[Venice]].

[[File:Zinal.jpg|thumb|left|Old wooden houses in [[Zinal]]]]
Gilardi and Oldelli families from [[Ticino]] set up architecture practices in [[Russia]]. [[Giovanni Giliardi]] built The Orphanage in [[Moscow]], and his son [[Domenico Giliardi]] was in charge of the rebuilding Moscow public buildings, including the [[Moscow State University|University]], after the [[French invasion of Russia (1812)|Great Fire of 1812]]. [[Domenico Trezzini]] built many places in [[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]] by the orders of [[Peter I of Russia|Peter the Great]]; [[Pietro Trezzini]] (not related to Domenico) continued the tradition in the 1740s. 

Early in the 20th century, a new movement, called the [[Style Sapin]], was created by the architect and painter  [[Charles l'Eplattenier]] in the city of [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]].  It was a variation of [[Art Nouveau]], and it became popularly known as the ''Style Sapin'', or pine tree style, since l'Eplatennier insisted that the best model for art and architecture in the region was the pine tree, along with the other native plants and trees of the Jura mountains. [[Le Corbusier]] (Charles-Edouard Jeanneret), was a student of l'Eplattenier, and at the age of eighteen built his first house, a chalet with a pine tree decorative design, in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He became a major force in western [[modern architecture]] in the 20th century.

Distinctive architecture of high quality can be found around Switzerland. It is often considered as particularly innovative modern architecture. [[Mario Botta]] is a famous architect who influenced modern architecture. The architects [[Jacques Herzog]] and [[Pierre de Meuron]] from [[Basel]] received the [[Pritzker Architecture Prize]] in 2001,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,360341,00.html | work=Das Spiegel| title = Herzog & de Meuron Propose Castle in The Sky for Hamburg|access-date=June 26, 2009|date=June 14, 2005}}</ref> in 2009 the prize was awarded to Swiss architect [[Peter Zumthor]],<ref name=ohnine>{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/apr/14/zumthor-pritzker-award | work=The Guardian|date=April 14, 2009| first=Ed|last=Pilkington|access-date=June 26, 2009|title=Swiss architect untouched by fad or fashion wins prized Pritzker award}}</ref> and in 2021, [[Anne Lacaton]] a Professor at [[ETH Zurich]], won the prize with her partner [[Jean-Philippe Vassal]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/anne-lacaton-and-jean-philippe-vassal | work= The Pritzker Architecture Prize | title = The 2021 Pritzker Prize Laureates: Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal |access-date=April 18, 2021|date=2021}}</ref>

==Visual arts==
{{See also|International Typographic Style{{!}}Swiss Style}}
In the 16th century [[Protestantism]] had a strong influence on visual arts in Switzerland. [[Samuel Hieronymus Grimm]] was a well-known 18th-century watercolourist and ink wash artist, although he created much of his notable work while in England. There was almost no influence from Italian or French Renaissance. Chiefly in modern times did Swiss artists begin to emerge internationally. [[Alberto Giacometti]] is said to have derived much of his inspiration from the [[Etruscans]], but became internationally known. [[Jean Tinguely]] fascinated people from all over the world with complex moving sculptures constructed entirely from scrap materials. [[Paul Klee]] is sometimes regarded as Switzerland's most original and impressive painter.

The [[Dada]] movement originated in the [[Cabaret Voltaire (Zürich)|Cabaret Voltaire]] in [[Zürich]] in 1916.

Despite the relatively small number of internationally famous artists such as [[Alberto Giacometti]] and [[H. R. Giger|HR Giger]], there are considerable art collections in renowned museums around Switzerland. These are not only found in the cities of Zürich, [[Basel]] and [[Geneva]] but also in smaller towns such as [[Schaffhausen]], [[Martigny, Switzerland|Martigny]] and [[Winterthur]]. The museums in the smaller towns pride themselves for their contribution to the arts, which exceed what is commonly found in provincial areas.

Graphic arts flourish in Switzerland, as does creative photography. Examples of this can be found on calendars, magazines and outdoor billboard advertisements.

==Literature==
{{Main|Swiss literature}}
In the field of literature Switzerland produced a number of very well known writers. [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] was from [[Geneva]]. The critic and historian [[Jacob Burckhardt]] was from [[Basel]]. The house of [[Germaine de Staël]] in [[Coppet]] was a centre of European literary life during the 18th century. Other writers include [[Gottfried Keller]], [[Conrad Ferdinand Meyer]], [[Jeremias Gotthelf]] and [[Charles Ferdinand Ramuz]]. [[Hermann Hesse]] and [[Carl Spitteler]] both won a [[Nobel Prize]] for their works.

In the 20th century the plays of [[Friedrich Dürrenmatt]] and [[Max Frisch]] impressed readers beyond the borders of Switzerland. There are a great number of regional dialects, especially in the German language. Even though standard German is commonly used for writing, there is a living dialect literature in many areas.

For children's culture there is the cartoon character [[Globi]].

==Music==
{{Main|Music of Switzerland}}

Switzerland is not commonly considered a leading musical nation. However, in the 20th century it produced a number of notable composers, such as [[Arthur Honegger]], [[Othmar Schoeck]] and [[Frank Martin (composer)|Frank Martin]], who have all gained international renown. [[Lucerne]] and [[Verbier]] both feature prestigious international classical music festivals in the summer: the [[Lucerne Festival]]<ref>[http://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/ Lucerne Festival]</ref> and the [[Verbier Festival]].<ref>[http://www.verbierfestival.com Verbier Festival]</ref> Other places have similar festivals, ranging from country and western to pop and jazz. The [[Montreux Jazz Festival]] is particularly well known.

Swiss composer and musician [[Andreas Vollenweider]] gained worldwide recognition with his harp music and has received a Grammy Award, followed by two Grammy nominations, one as recent as 2007. His 17 instrumental albums have sold over 15 million copies.

==Media==
{{Main|Media of Switzerland}}
{{See also|Cinema of Switzerland}}
Newspapers have a strong regional character, but some are renowned for their thorough coverage of international issues, such as the {{Lang|de|[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]]}} of [[Zürich]] and ''[[Le Temps]]'' of [[Geneva]]. As elsewhere, [[television]] plays a great role in modern cultural life in Switzerland. The national public broadcaster, [[SRG SSR idée suisse]], offers three networks, one each for the German, French and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland. In the German-speaking part, television from Germany is popular, as is television from France in the French-speaking part and television from Italy in the Italian-speaking part. American movies and television series are influential in all areas.

In [[film]], American productions constitute most of the programme, although several Swiss movies have enjoyed commercial successes in recent years. Maybe due to the multilingual culture, almost all movie theatres play movies in their original language with subtitles, and films on television are often broadcast in original and synchronized versions.

== Banking ==
{{Main|Banking in Switzerland}}[[File:Landscape_Arnisee-region.JPG|alt=|thumb|232x232px|Switzerland's [[Geography of Switzerland|mountainous terrain]] helps to store gold in [[Bunker|underground bunkers]].]]Switzerland has been associated with banking and other related banking services. Since the early 18th century, Switzerland has a [[Banking in Switzerland#Banking secrecy|long, kindred history of banking secrecy]] and client confidentiality. Started as a way to protect wealthy European banking interests, Swiss banking secrecy was codified with the 1934 [[Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks]].  Considered the "grandfather of bank secrecy", has been one of the largest [[Offshore financial centre|offshore financial centers]] and [[Tax haven|tax havens]] in the world since the mid-20th century. Following [[Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks#Revisions|an international push]] to roll back banking secrecy laws, Switzerland has seen fluctuating levels of banking regulation. 

Releasing client information has been considered a serious social and criminal offence since the early 1900s. Employees working in Switzerland and abroad at Swiss banks "have long adhered to an unwritten code similar to that [[Non-disclosure agreement|observed by doctors or priests]]".<ref name=":17">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-banks-specialreport/special-report-the-battle-for-the-swiss-soul-idUSBRE93H07620130418|title=Special Report: The battle for the Swiss soul|last=Thomasson|first=Emma|date=April 18, 2013|work=Reuters|access-date=May 19, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Banking in Switzerland has historically played, and still continues to play, a dominant role in the [[Economy of Switzerland|Swiss economy]] and society. According to the [[OECD|Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD), in 2015, total banking assets amount to 467% of total gross domestic product.<ref name=":3">[[Banking in Switzerland#Bibliography|Financial Secrecy Index: Narrative Report on Switzerland (2018)]], p. 2</ref> Banking in Switzerland [[Banking in Switzerland#In popular culture|has been portrayed]], to varying degrees of accuracy, in overall popular culture, books, movies, and television shows.

==Science==
{{Main|Science and technology in Switzerland}}
There has been a long tradition of Swiss scientists ever since [[Paracelsus]] (real name ''Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim'') in the 16th century. Paracelsus introduced the field of chemistry into medicine in the 16th century. The Bernoulli family from [[Basel]] is known for their significant contributions to mathematics over a time span of three generations. [[Leonhard Euler]] is another innovative mathematician. [[Horace-Bénédict de Saussure]] was a naturalist and pioneer in Alpine studies. The [[ETH Zurich|Federal Institute of Technology]] in Zürich has produced a great number of [[Nobel Prize]] winners, while the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as [[CERN]], operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. [[Ferdinand de Saussure]] was an important contributor to the field of [[linguistics]]. Physicist [[Albert Einstein]], born in Germany, moved to Switzerland in 1895 at the age of 16 and became a Swiss citizen in 1901.

==Leisure==
{{Main|Sport in Switzerland}}
[[File:Blumenstein BE Switzerland wanderwege.JPG|thumb|Common hiking signs]]

The close proximity to the mountains in all areas in Switzerland has greatly influenced the leisure of Swiss people. The growth of ski and mountaineering resorts in the Swiss mountains have caused the Swiss to become very sports conscious. Apart from [[skiing]] and [[mountaineering]], Swiss-style wrestling (''Schwingen'') is still popular in rural areas. Sunday-morning shooting sessions and [[Hornussen]] (a kind of Alpine baseball) are two other traditional Swiss sports. [[Shooting sports|Shooting]], [[tennis]], [[golf]], [[ice hockey]], [[Association football|football (soccer)]], [[basketball]], [[handball]], [[gliding]], [[paragliding]], [[sailing]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[volleyball]], [[floorball]], [[mountain biking]], and [[hiking]] in the forests and mountains are all popular pastimes. Fishing is commonplace in the many lakes and rivers, but often a licence is necessary. Many mountain lakes freeze over during winter and are used for [[curling]], horse and dog racing, particularly around [[St. Moritz]]. 

[[Lausanne]] is headquarters for many international sport organisations, notably the [[International Olympic Committee]], the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] and some 55 international sport associations. [[FIFA]] is headquartered in [[Zürich]].

==Cultural World Heritage Sites==
{{See also|Geography of Switzerland#Natural World Heritage Sites}}
<gallery>
File:Lavaux Alpes et Lac léman.jpg|[[Lavaux]] vineyards
File:CH Bern Kramgasse.jpg|[[Old City of Bern]]
File:Stiftskirche St.Gallen.jpg|[[Abbey of Saint Gall]]
File:Castelli.JPG|[[Three Castles of Bellinzona]]
File:Benediktinerkloster St. Johann.JPG|[[Benedictine Convent of Saint John]]
File:Bernina Express.JPG|[[Rhaetian Railway]]
File:GlacierLandwasser.jpg|[[Landwasserviadukt]]
File:La Chaux de Fonds.jpg|[[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] and [[Le Locle]]
File:Immeuble Clarté - JeP 2019 - Façade 03.jpg|[[Immeuble Clarté]] by [[Le Corbusier]] in Geneva
File:Laténium-maquette-village-laustre.jpg|56 of the 111 [[Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Pre-Christian Alpine traditions]]
* [[Swiss people]]
* [[Swiss Alps]]
* [[Agriculture in Switzerland]]
* [[Swiss cuisine]]

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081028000106/http://www.sikart.ch/page.php?pid=2&lang=en SIKART dictionary and database] of the [[Swiss Institute for Art Research]] (SIAR). Provides biographical information about Swiss visual artists.
* [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/travel/index.html?siteSect=410 swissinfo.ch – Travel & Culture News ]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070220201822/http://www.danda.be/gallery/country/switzerland/ Photo Galleries: Swiss Architecture]

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[[Category:Culture of Switzerland]]