Art & cultureCustoms
Church services with yodelling
Church services with music and yodelling
Yodelling clubs in the canton of Schwyz are often invited to perform during church services to celebrate special feast days.
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Farmer’s festival
Highlight for customs and agriculture
In earlier times, when the Alpine herdsmen descended to the valley in the autumn after spending the long summer months alone in the mountains, they not only brought the Alpine cheese and butter, but also celebrated.
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Folk music
More than tradition
Many musicians from Schwyz have shaped Swiss folk music from the start, including famous names such as Martin Inderbitzin, Albert Bachmann, Rees Gwerder or Hugo Bigi.
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Historical customs
Battle of Morgarten and Rütli rifle match
The tradition of commemorating the fallen heroes in the Battle of Morgarten (November 15, 1315) is held every year. The riflemen’s association from Lucerne organises the Rütli rifle match on the Wednesday before Martinmas.
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Religious festivals
Pilgrimages and Day of Prayer
Be it with local or cantonal pilgrimages or special pilgrimage feasts, several communities in the canton of Schwyz actively cultivate religious rituals still today, particularly in the monastery village of Einsiedeln.
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St. Nicholas
Feast of St. Nicholas
Originally, this was a pagan custom in which people attempted to drive the winter spirits away with loud, noisy instruments. Later the Christian component was added, including the bishop’s mitre and St. Nicholas.
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Swiss wrestling
The sawdust arena
Swiss wrestling is more than simply a wrestling match. This is where sport and folklore merge: Swiss folk music, yodel choirs, alphorn players and flag throwers are all present.
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