Zürich Local Customs

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Zurich features several Christmas markets.

One famous one is located in the railway station itself on two levels and in several passage ways. It is apparently the biggest indoor Christmas market in Europe and its landmark is the big Christmas tree decorated by Swarovski.

Then you will find Christmas market stalls in the upper Bahnhofstrasse and the Pestalozziwiese (behind Globus). On Werdmuehleplatz you will find the singing Christmas tree.

In the Niederdorf, the old town, you will find another Christmas market with many stalls.

Please check with the tourist office when the markets start each year but basically they run for about a month before Christmas up to Christmas.

I always recommend to everyone travelling to Zurich to check for local deals before they leave. Dining in restaurants is extremely expensive in Zurich (and Switzerland generally). Therefore check for local deals (such as groupon in the US) that allow you to have a "cheap" dinner. I say "cheap" because sometimes the best restaurants are promoted, which are extremely pricey and even with discounts it's not yet cheap.

There are quite a few suppliers, I have made good experiences with deindeal and groupon.
A useful overview providing all deals currently available in Zurich is http://www.dealanzeiger.ch/Zurich.html

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Most of the districts of the city have their own celebrations in the evening of National Holiday. Sonja and her mum took me to the one in Seebach (a 10 minutes walk from my hotel). As you can see on the pictures the bonfire was a success. And so was the "chilbi" in general! It was fun to watch the locals enjoying their private fireworks as well as the tombola, the stalls sold very good food (I had a delicious veal bratwurst, thanks Sonja, and rivella) at reasonable prices.

Halfway through the party a thunderstorm came up and everyone fled to the covered area with benches and tables. Everyone had a good time despite the weather (or because of the weather?) and I am really glad I visited!

Important note: All photos were taken by VT member yumyum, also known as Sonja ;-) Thanks a lot!

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Swiss National Day is on the first of August which is a holiday. In Zurich there is an official part with a small cortège through part of Bahnhofstrasse where you may see people in traditional costumes, big cowbells etc. and then there is an official speech at Buerkliplatz.

In fact the official part starts very early in the morning around 7 am with the salute shots at Kolbenhof underneath Uetliberg. Depending on where you live, you will hear the shots across town. There are 38 of them apparently, although I didn't count that many. 26 for the number of Swiss cantons and 12 for the various parts of Zurich.

In the evening, you could for instance go to the local festivities in Seebach at the Buhnrain school. In front of the school building you will find a typical local 1st August party where families eat a Bratwurst or Cervelat, have a drink, buy raffle tickets and let their firework go off. A highlight is the big traditional bonfire which is looked after by the local fire brigade.

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I happened to be in Zürich on August 1 - which is the Swiss National Holiday. The Swiss people are proud of their country - justified - and they show it. Thanks to my friend Sonja (yumyum) I got a leaflet with information on the several celebrations. It started with a parade down the Bahnhofstrasse to Bürkliplatz.

I arrived right in time for the parade - and what an unforgettable sight that was! Swiss from Zürich and other cantons marched, dressed in traditional garb, playing Alphorn, yodeling, singing folk songs and last but not least ringing big cow bells. I must admit I was totally overwhelmed by the sounds that you usually only hear in the mountains. Loudest were the cow bells (that's called "treicheln" if I recall correctly), a deafining sound and very impressive.

Afterwards soldiers fired some shots from ancient guns and a speech was given at Bürkliplatz. I understood most of it and thought the speech was very good, with meaning and humor.

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After the speech was given (or, to be honest, already during the speech :-)) the parade participants mingled with the visitors, these in return congratulated them on their beautiful garbs and performances. And everyone grabbed some food and drinks from the stalls that were built on the shady Bürkliplatz. Several cantons presented their culinary specialties, like the folks from Ticino cooked risotto (delicious!) and offered red wine (yummy!).

I enjoyed the vibrant, festive atmosphere very much. Of course the sunny but not too hot weather added to the wonderful experience. While I am usually not a fan of folk music I thought they did a very good job, played and sang very well. In case you're in Switzerland on August 1 then don't miss the celebrations!

In the middle of Zürich there is a Wallace Fountain just like the ones in Paris, with explanatory plaques in several languages.

The explanation in English reads:

"Fountain from Paris, 1870, to initiate the 1982 World Convention of Water Experts in Zurich. The four nymphs personify simplicity, purity, sobriety and charity. They symbolize international co-operation in providing people everywhere with pure and salubrious water."

These fountains were named after the English philanthropist and art collector Sir Richard Wallace (1818-1890), who donated them to the city of Paris in 1871 and 1872 (not 1870 as it says on the plaque) to provide safe drinking water for the people of Paris after the city’s public water supply had been destroyed during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 and the uprising of the Paris Commune.

There's a local custom that reminded me of home, at first, but when I had the chance to taste them (thank you Sonja) I found out that has nothing to do with Portuguese roasted chestnuts.

These ones are sweeter and they are quite smaller, but with an intense flavour.

In conclusion: I loved them