Spell check: the Swiss origins of the European witch craze
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The 15th-century description of a witch hunt in the Bernese Simmental became the blueprint for witch hunts across Europe.
An eye-opening guide to Switzerland’s ear-splitting sirens
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Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, the sound of 7,200 sirens fills the Alpine air, startling anyone who doesn’t know it’s a test.
Spring begins in Geneva when the official horse chestnut tree says so
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It's spring in Geneva when the secretary general of the cantonal parliament sees the first leaf on the city's official horse chestnut.
Ubersitz, the utterly unique – and deafening – Swiss custom
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At the end of the year the villages around Meiringen pump up the volume and bizarre characters celebrate the ancient tradition of Ubersitz.
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Most Swiss families have a coat of arms. This may come as a surprise abroad, where heraldry is often the preserve of nobility.
How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act
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Once upon a time, a mysterious dark-faced figure would enter Swiss homes on December 6, beating and (briefly) abducting children into behaving better. Schmutzli needed an image makeover.
The CHF1,000 dance of death and other unforgettable Swiss banknotes
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The Swiss National Bank puts a lot of thought into the design of its banknotes, some of which really grabbed the public’s imagination.
