Page 30 - ZSG Bordmagazin 2020 - Zürichsee Schifffahrt

Tour of Traditional Zurich
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Switzerland is the land of chocolate, clocks and cheese – but anyone who thinks the diverse traditions of this country can be reduced
to those three stereotypes is very much mistaken. Each of the
26 cantons cultivates its very own customs and specialities. Ranging from traditional fairs and city legends through to classic dishes, there’s plenty to discover on the trail of Zurich’s cultural identity, even for locals.
OF LANCES AND BOATS
Zurich’s Sechseläuten (1) spring festival already found mention in James Joyce’s writing, and the Knabenschiessen (2) has become so widely known these days that no one fears innocent children may be harmed during the popular target shooting fair. But what about the Schifferstechen (3), a water jousting competition held by the Boatmen’s Guild? The spectacular custom dates from the late Middle Ages and only takes place in Zurich every three years. Picture a knights’ tournament, but on a river: Two opponents equipped with lances move towards each other on wobbly boats and try to push each other into the Limmat. In medieval times these battles were carried out with sharp spikes and heavy armour, putting the competitors at considerable risk of drowning. Today the tournament is entirely safe – but still a spectacle.
Next date: 4 July 2020, schifferstechen.ch
HEIDI’S HOMETOWN
Everyone knows the story of Heidi (4). The young orphan girl that found happiness in the idyllic Alps with Alm-Uncle and Peter the goatherd
captured everybody’s heart at the end of the 19th century. Published in 1880, the international bestseller by Johanna Spyri (1827–1901) has been translated into more than 50 languages, made into multiple films and has sold around 50 million copies worldwide. Yet this classic
of children’s literature was not written in the fresh mountain air, but in the very heart of Zurich. Johanna Spyri created the timeless story in
her apartment at the former Stadthausplatz near the Bauschänzli – accompanied by the noise and smell of the construction works in the rapidly expanding city. Heidi – born in Zurich, at home in the mountains,
loved all over the world.
More on Johanna Spyri: spyri-museum.ch
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