By Sulistyowati

SWITZERLANDBy Sulistyowati

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland is also known as "Confoederatio Helvetica", therefore the abbreviation "CH". "Confoederatio" stands for "confederation", "Helvetica" derives from the Latin word "Helvetier", the name of the people who lived in the area which became later Switzerland.

NAME

FLAG

The flag of Switzerland consists of a red flag with a white cross (a bold, equilateral cross) in the centre.

It is one of only two square sovereign-state flags, the other being the flag of Vatican City.

MOTTO

‘Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno’

=‘One for all, all for one’

NATIONAL ANTHEM

The Swiss Psalm is the national anthem of Switzerland. It was composed in 1841, by Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854). Since then, it has been frequently sung at patriotic events.

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With the opening of a new important north-south trade route across the Alps in the early 13th century, the Empire's rulers began to attach more importance to the remote Swiss mountain valleys, which were granted some degree of autonomy under direct imperial rule.

Fearful of the popular disturbances flaring up following the death of the Holy Roman Emperor in 1291, the ruling families from Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden signed a charter to keep public peace and pledging mutual support in upholding autonomous administrative and judicial rule. The anniversary of the charter's signature August 1, 1291.

BRIEF HISTORY

Switzerland is famous for its no-interference policy. They have stood as a neutral nation for the longest

time. Interesting fact- Switzerland has not been at war since

1505. Even in the World Wars, they provided a safe passage

for both the warring sides. This neutral stand has appreciably helped Switzerland

in keeping a stable economy in all times.

SWITZERLAND IS DIVIDED INTO 26 CANTONS

The politics of Switzerland take place in the framework of a multi-party federal directorial democratic republic.

The Federal Council of Switzerland is the collective head of government and head of state.

THE POLITICS OF SWITZERLAND

The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland

and serves as the collective head of government and state of Switzerland.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Switzerland is the closest state in the world to a direct democracy.

For any change in the constitution, a referendum is mandatory (mandatory referendum); for any change in a law, a referendum can be requested (optional referendum).

REFERENDUM

The economy of Switzerland is one of the world's most stable economies, their system economic is Capitalism.

Because of the country's small size and high labor specialization, industry and trade are the keys to Switzerland's economic livelihood.

Switzerland has achieved one of the highest per capita incomes in the world with low unemployment rates and a balanced budget.

ECONOMIC SYSTEM

The Swiss currency is called "Schweizerfranken" ("Swiss Francs") or short "Franken". One hundred "Rappen" make

up one Swiss Franc. CHF is the ISO representation for Swiss francs; however, the old notation sFr. is still used

quite often.This is a 5 Franken coin, called a "Fünfliber"

CURRENCY

Switzerland has an open trade economy based on low prices for manufactured goods and no limitation when it comes to quantity. 

This is one of the main reasons the economy is very stable and Switzerland attracts foreign investments.

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CAPITALISM

About two third of the area of Switzerland is covered with forests, lakes and mountains. Since Switzerland has no mineral resources, it must import, process and resell them as products.

"Services" are the most important part of the economy. This includes banking, assurances and tourism.

Farming is also an important part of the economy. But the production of the Swiss farmers does not fulfill the needs of all people, so Switzerland must rely on imported goods from other countries.

ECONOMIC SYSTEM

THE ECONOMY IN SWITZERLAND IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTORS:

The economy in

Switzerland

"Landwirtschaft" (agriculture)

"Industrie" (industry)

"Dienstleistungen" (services)

FOREIGN TRADE VALUE OF THE IMPORTED AND EXPORTED GOODS IN

MILLION SWISS FRANCS (1 MILLION = 1'000'000)

No Goods Import

1 Chemicals 27'256

2 Machines 25'925

3 Vehicles 12'843

4 Agriculture and fishery 9'864

5 Metals 9'329

6 Textile, clothing and shoes 8'625

7 Precision tools, watches, jewelry 8'167

8 Energy 5'369

9 Paper 4'740

10 Other 4'516

11 Leather, rubber, plastic 4'264

12 Stone, soil 2'229

No Goods Export

1 Chemicals 44'846

2 Machines 31'693

3 Precision tools, watches, jewelry 22'602

4 Agriculture and fishery 4'219

5 Vehicles 3'742

6 Textile, clothing and shoes 3'726

7 Leather, rubber, plastic 3'647

8 Paper 3'275

9 Other 1'746

10 Metals 975

11 Stone, soil 780

12 Energy 363

WATCHES

It is a well known fact that the Swiss Watches dominate the Wachmaking industry.

These watches are an excellent combination of both aesthetics and technology.

Anyone’s personality shoots up to a dozen measures by these watches. Swiss Watches are known for their accuracy and wide range.

Most of the well known watch brands like Tag Heuer, Rolex, Rado, Omega, etc are all from Switzerland.

SWISS CHOCOLATE

If you tell me you don’t like Swiss chocolate, I would seriously believe you haven’t tasted it yet.

Switzerland is famous for the art of chocolate making. They have world’s best milk chocolate made of finest milk and cream.

Once tasted, it is hard to resist this delicious to the core Swiss Chocolate.

CHEESE

Switzerland is the place where you can find the finest quality of cheese.

It is home to about 450 varieties of cheese.

Did you know there are even so many varieties of cheese? In Switzerland, you do not have to go to a specific place to get their specialty cheese. It is everywhere.

SWISS ARMY KNIFE

This useful pocket MultiTool was legally registered on June 12, 1897.

Over 34,000 of these pocket tools with the distinctive Swiss cross leave Switzerland each day.

Now, we can use Officers and Sports Knife from Switzerland.

They do not disclose the account holder’s name even to the government except at the extreme cases like criminal or terrorist activities.

Contrary to the popular belief, the Swiss banks are not only for tax evasion and money laundering by politicians, criminals, etc but they are also popular among the commoners.

With the best banking strategy and most stable economy in the past years, Switzerland has emerged as the best option for banking service.

SWISS BANKS ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR PRIVACY POLICY

Swiss Alps, also known as Central Alps, is the region of Alpine mountain ranges that lie in Switzerland.

Around 65% of Switzerland is covered by Alps, one of the most beautiful mountain ranges.

Switzerland is the place where one can find the highest peaks and glaciers.

Skiing and hiking are way of Swiss life.

Some of the famous Alpine Mountains in Switzerland are the Matterhorn, the Eiger and the Jungfrau.

ALPS

Switzerland is home to a large number of small and large lakes. There is a scenic beauty in Switzerland with all the lakes, mountain ranges and meadows.

One can easily fall in love with the beauty of Lake Geneva, Lake Zurich and Lake Neuchatel. These crystal clear mountain lakes make the world’s best Lake views.

LAKES

MUSIC FESTIVALS RANGING FROM CLASSICAL TO ROCK

Switzerland is famous for its music festivals ranging from Classical to rock. There is a music fest for every season in Switzerland.

Every August, The Rock Oz’Arènes festival takes place in the Roman amphitheatre in Avenches.

In addition to the Annual Classical Music Festival, summer sees various Rock and Pop open-air concerts that attract fans both from home and other countries.

Even Winter has open air rock concerts: the SnowpenAir on the Kleine Scheidegg in the Bernese Oberland.

According to some surveys it is the city with best quality of life in the world and the wealthiest city of Europe.

This city is well known for luxurious shopping, lodging and cuisine.

Being the most popular city of the country it attracted many notable artists and writers in 19th and 20th century. Also, the Dada Movement is said to have been born in this city in 1916.

ZURICH THIS MOST DESIRABLE CITY IN THE WORLD IS PRIDE OF SWITZERLAND.

Language

Religion

Custom

Foods and

Dishes

Celebrate

Traditional sports

CULTURE

THE FOUR NATIONAL LANGUAGES OF SWITZERLAND ARE GERMAN,FRENCH, ITALIAN AND RUMANTSCH

RELIGION

FOODS AND DISHES OF SWITZERLAND

Zurchergeschnetzeltes Zopf

Bűndnernusstorte

FOODS AND DISHES OF SWITZERLAND

Tartiflette

Raclette

Fondue

The Unspunnen is a celebration of Swiss folklore which takes place approximately once every 12 years in the town of Interlaken.

THE UNSPUNNEN

Alphorns are wooden musical instruments which are more than 3 metres (10 feet) long. They were originally used to send signals across the mountains and to call cattle. The Alphorn is the national instrument of Switzerland.

Groups of Alphorn players come to Interlaken for the Unspunnen festival, playing on the streets and in the main arena.

ALPHORNS

NATIONAL COSTUM

The national costume of Switzerland is versatile but made in the same style; bright but modest; eccentric but balanced; convenient but beautiful.

Swiss national clothing was originated from the lifestyle, environment and traditions of Swiss people.

Traditional costumes were reintroduced in Switzerland during the 1920s, inspired by the drawings of Swiss artists, and a National Day for Traditional Costumes (Trachtentag)

was introduced. There are now many local groups who dress up and perform songs and folk dances.

TRADITIONAL COSTUMES

Is particularly stunning around the holidays with ice skating and festive Christmas markets. But perhaps the

most famous festival of all is Lucerne’s Carnival.

COLORFUL HOLIDAY FESTIVALS LUCERNE

Yodelling is a traditional form of singing. There are yodel songs, often about the mountains and local life, or melodies sung without words. The

word "yodel" is derived from an old German word meaning to cry out with joy.

YODELLING

Flag throwing (Fahnenschwingen) is often part of Swiss celebrations,

including those on the Swiss National Day on 1st August. A lot of concentration and skill is required to swing, throw and catch the flags.

FLAG THROWING

One of the most famous traditions at the Unspunnen festival is the stone-throwing (Steinstossen) competition.

The stone used for the main contest weighs 167lb and must be thrown as far as possible.

STONE THROWING

In Alpine wrestling (Schwingen) the contestants wear special shorts over their trousers. One hand grips the

opponent's belt (through a hole at the back) and the other grips the bottom of his shorts. The aim is to throw the

opponent onto his back (with both shoulders touching the ground), without losing the grip on his shorts. Each bout lasts up to about 10 minutes. If neither succeeds during

this time it is a draw.

ALPINE WRESTLING (SCHWINGEN)

TERIMA KASIH