Sausage hits a snag

Swiss butchers are in a lather over the fate of one of Switzerland’s favourite sausages: the cervelat. The government apparently hasn’t had the guts to take on the European Union over an import ban on one of its main ingredients – zebu intestines from Brazil. There are still enough of these natural casings to keep [...]

Swiss army knife overdose

You will need big pockets and big hands for this one: a Swiss Army knife that weighs nearly 1.4 kilograms has been inducted into the 2008 edition of Guinness World Records for “most functions on a penknife.” It has 87 tools and at least 115 uses. Developed by Wenger, the beast has a dozen or [...]

Going home

In autumn, Swiss cows leave their mountain pastures before the cold finally sets in, returning to the farm. The journey is an opportunity to hold a colourful parade in the many villages they travel through on their way home with their owners.

traditions

Hans, you can keep your gun but…

The Swiss parliament has accepted a proposal to no longer let members of the country’s militia army keep ammunition at home. Their weapons can stay locked up in the basement for the time being, but it could be very well that Swiss voters have the final say in the matter. Parliament’s decision [...]

Some things never change

Traditional wrestling brought together hundreds of thousands of people recently in the Swiss city of Aarau. Two days of competition to decide who would be king of the sawdust ring and take home the bull.

traditions