Travel to Switzerland

Do you have any ancestors that came from Switzerland? Do you have a Swiss heritage that you have yet tapped into? Switzerland is located in Western Europe. Switzerland is surrounded by Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. The country is landlocked and divided between the Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura. The country has a total area of 41, 285 square kilometers.

The largest cities in the country are located on the Plateau and the majority of the 7.7 million people that populate the country live in the Plateau. Zurich and Geneva are both global cities that are located on the Plateau. In today's world Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world per capita gross domestic product. The nominal per capita GDP is $67,384. This country has maintained a reputation of neutrality by refusing to participate in any wars since 1815. Switzerland was also one of the last countries to join the United Nations.

With a cultural and linguistic region for German, French and Italian the country is not typical in that it has a sense of common ethnic linguistic identity. The country's strong sense of belonging comes from the fact that country's common historical background, shared values an Alpine symbolism. The establishment of the Swiss Confederation is traditionally dated the 1 of August 1291. The Swiss National Day is the celebration of the country's anniversary.

So, what does this have to do with you all the way over here in America? If you have a Swiss heritage there are opportunities for you to celebrate this heritage right here in the states. Midvale Utah celebrates the Swiss heritage that the city has every year during their Midway Swiss Days. This celebration is monumental and is a great reminder of the roots of the city. This year the Swiss Days will be held on September 3rd and 4th. From traditional foods to the unique activities and events that come from Switzerland this celebration is unparalleled.

The origin of the Swiss Days event date back to the late 1940's. During this time the harvest was being completed, local farmers and ranchers would join together to celebrate a plentiful and bountiful harvest. What was originally known as "Harvest Days" has now become Swiss Days. The community members gather together and dress in the traditional clothing unique to the canton or reigion of Switzerland where the forefathers of Midway were born.

Enjoying Midvale's Swiss Days

Swiss Days began to grow into a major event and started attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the beautiful high mountain town. When Swiss Days first started gaining its popularity various groups donated their time to prepare food and beverage for the guests. It wasn't long before the Midway Booster, Inc became aware of the opportunity to make a profit from Swiss Days. The money from Swiss Days became the way in which the city paid for the 4th of July parade, the nighttime fireworks display and the American flags that decorate the streets during July.

This money has also enabled many talented young local high school students to be able to participate in educational trips to Washington, DC. The Midway Booster Inc has also purchased a portable defibrillator and gave it to the Wasatch County Sheriff's department and Fire District. These Swiss Days are a great way to not only celebrate Swiss heritage but also to support a city that is concentrating on bettering their citizens. If these reasons are not enough to entice you to this city wait until you hear about the activities that Midvale puts on for Swiss Days.

Early Friday morning the Market will open. This means that the hundreds of vendors that line up along the streets will open for business. There are clogging, accordion, singing, blue grass and theatrical performances. A traditional bbq dinner is available for all guests to purchase. The Swiss Miss competition is also enjoyable to participate in. Watching the young women in Midvale compete to carry the title of Swiss Miss provides another form of entertainment.

Because Midvale gets very crowded during Swiss Days it is important to look into making accommodations long before the event occurs. There are many different options to look into before you decide on a specific lodging spot. You can try to book a hotel room in Midvale. This will provide you easy and close access to the festivities. There is also the option of becoming a time share holder. If you do this you will be able to experience the festivities from the comfort of a home setting.

Switzerland's natural beauty and stunning architecture really comes into its own during the winter season, so it's no wonder thousands of tourists from across the world head to Swiss cities to see in the New Year. But there's more to Switzerland's New Year charm than just an abundance of snow, with the European nation having a number of fascinating traditions passed down through the generations.

Switzerland's New Year celebrations may be largely the same as those in other countries - involving spectacular fireworks displays, live music and free-flowing mulled wine - but with the enchanting backdrop of Zurich, Geneva and other destinations, the country offers a unique experience for many revellers. More than 150,000 people gather each year along the banks of the River Limmat and Lake Zurich to take part in the traditional festivities, as the church bells chime midnight and the sky illuminates with fireworks.

Heading to Zurich is an ideal choice for those who like their New Year to last well into the night. The live music lets up only for the fireworks performance, and continues until 3am, after which the city's excellent public transport services continue to ferry party-goers back to their hotels and other accommodation.

The best news for those visiting Switzerland for New Year is that you can do it twice, in close succession. Because the country still traditionally follows the Julian calendar, which predates the Gregorian calendar that's now the international standard, the Swiss celebrate New Year a second time on 13 January - so even if you spent 31st December somewhere else, you still don't have to miss out on Switzerland's cultural charm.

The 13th also marks Sylvester's Day, a traditional day of gift-giving and fine dining among Swiss families - so foreign visitors might view the Swiss as having a second Christmas, too. Visiting Switzerland during this festive time can offer a wealth of unique experiences, such as witnessing locals taking to the streets in colourful costumes and enacting the symbolic chasing away of evil spirits.

If you're staying with locals during your New Year visit, it can be a good idea to make cheap calls to Switzerland to give you a clearer idea of what to expect. From cleaning one another's houses to dropping cream on the floor to bless the footsteps of visitors, the Swiss New Year is a singular event that can enthral, entertain and mystify visitors.