In some places roast goose with chestnut stuffing is traditional to the day. Goose necks, filled with ground giblets, seasonings and other ingredients, are a favorite delicacy when thinly sliced and served with between-meat snacks. Housewives vie with one another in making special New Year's bread rich with milk, butter, eggs, and raisins, while birewegge, or pear pie (which looks like a shiny loaf of bread and has a rich filling of pears and raisins) is a popular seasonal treat."

BERCHTOLD'S TAG
In many areas the second day of January is devoted to gay neighborhood parties in which nuts play an important part. In early autumn children begin hoarding supplies of nuts for Berchtold's Day, when they have "nut feasts." Nut eating and nut games, followed by singing and folk dancing are features of these Berchtold Day gatherings. One favorite stunt of the boys and girls is to make "hocks." Five nuts make a hock--surprisingly difficult to construct--four nuts placed close together, with a fifth placed on top.

FESTA DI SANT' ANTONIO
In Bellinzona, Locarno, and other towns and villages throughout the canton of Ticino, the ceremony of Blessing the Animals is an important rite. Owners curry their horses, mules, and donkeys until their coats shine, then adorn the beasts with bells and ribbons and take them in procession to church. Often the family dogs attend the parade, barking and jumping joyously as the larger animals are driven in state toward the sanctuary doors.

CHALANDA MARZ
On the first of March boys of the Engadine "ring out the winter" and announce spring's arrival with a picturesque old custom. The youths put on herdsmen's costumes with wide leather belts from which they suspend as many large cow bells as they can collect. Smaller bells hang from their necks or are strapped across their chests. Other lads, who represent the cows, put bells around their necks and follow the "herdsmen." The children go about from house to house, clanging their bells with enough uproar to make winter speedily retreat, and serenade housewives with an old spring song:

SECHSELAUTEN
For over six hundred years the city of Zurich has symbolically driven out Winter and welcomed Spring with the traditional Sechselauten, Six Ringing Festival, which is observed on a Sunday and Monday early in April. The festival originated in the Middle Ages when the trade guilds governed the city. On the Monday following the spring equinox (March 21) it was customary for the cathedral bells to start ringing at six, instead of seven o'clock--the usual time--to announce the end of the guild member's working day. This first day of change from winter to summer schedule was celebrated as a guild holiday. For centuries the bells rang as a signal to cease work. Gradually the general public sought to join in festivities. Finally the Six Ringing, which started as a purely guild holiday, became an affair in which all of Zurich's citizens shared.

KUHKAMPFE
Organized cow battles are unique to the canton of Valais. Each spring during April the Queen Cow of the village herds is determined by pitting the cows against each other in battle. The cow that holds her own against all opponents and comes through the encounter victorious, is proclaimed Queen Cow of the year.

ALP AUFZUG
Alp Aufzug, the procession of animals driven to upland pastures in early spring, is a picturesque sight and a festive occasion in every valley hamlet. Every year the village men and older boys set out in early spring for crude mountain huts, situated at an altitude of six to eight thousand feet, to look after the cows and goats and make butter and cheese for autumn marketing. The women and children remain at home, tending crops and gardens and bringing in the hay.

FASTNACHT
"Some time before Lent--usually the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday

One of Switzerland's most magnificent spectacles is the Basel Carnival which opens in the market square at four o'clock in the morning with fife and drum performances by the bands of various companies. Just as Basel's clocks strike four lights go out all over the city. From every direction fifers, drummers and masked marchers in fantastic costume, pour into the square. In the procession that follows, four men in each group carry immense transparencies which, like many of Valencia's fallas, mercilessly satirize local politics and politicians. Other marchers carry colorful lanterns attached to the ends of long poles. The transparencies, like the fallas, are created in secret by professional artists. Later awards are given for the most unique or original contributions."

Geneva
"Geneva is an anomaly, proving the idiom 'small is beautiful'. An international fame city yet nothing pompous within it. Geneva is little more than town-sized and exceptionally simple like its residents. About 38 percent of the population in Geneva is that of foreigners, basically US or French people. Located on a picturesque location, it is centred around the point where the River Rhne flows out of Lake Geneva (Lac Lman in French, Genfersee in German) flanked on one side by the Jura ridges and on the other by the first peaks of the Savoy Alps.

The Godfather of the city is the Reformer Jean (or John) Calvin, the inspiration behind Puritanism and Presbyterianism, who turned Geneva into a ""Protestant Rome"" in the 16th century. His parsimonious spirit made Geneva one of the richest cities in Europe. ""The Republic and Canton of Geneva"" is only nominally (4 kms) within Switzerland's borders, sharing a large territory (108km) with France all around. Most of the French residents get benefited from both a high Swiss salary and relatively low French living expenses, whereas the Genevois save money by doing their shopping in France."

Lucerne
"An hours distance from the south of Basle and Zrich, and spectacular mountain views, lake cruises and a picturesque old quarter, LUZERN (Lucerne in French and English, Lucerna in Italian) has been one of the Europe's most heavily visited tourist places. Its popularity dates back to the year 1868 when Queen Victoria came for a long holiday in August 1868. A century old steady growth has resulted in the tourist trafiic of five millions visiting Lucerne every year. Tourism is the leading source of income, yet the city has been able to retain its charm at all costs.

The River Reuss splits the town, flowing rapidly out of the northwestern end of the lake. Both sides of the banks of River are clustered with medieval squares, frescoed houses, ancient guildhalls, churches and chapels, and filled with a liveliness that belies the city's age. Apart from being the base of initiating a Switzerland Tour, Lucerne is an exotic place to spend at least a couple of days to roam about in its quality museums - a Picasso gallery, the impressive Verkehrshaus (Transport Museum) - along with the medieval battlements, cobbled alleys and hidden garden courtyards."

Zurich
"Zurich is famed for being the cleanest, most icily calm and efficient city in Europe. One of the biggest towns of Europe and Switzerland; visiting Zrich gives you a feel at home element where you can finally walk on crowded, multi-ethnic streets, buy a kebab, get a drink after midnight, feel a lived-in urban buzz. In the last two years the art and culture in the city has progressed by leaps and bounds; expressing itself in the most tangible form in a host of clubs and a thriving underground dance scene. Once a stereotype, Zurich no longer conveys the traditional essence. The city has now attained a dynamic hue characterized by an exciting city.

A tourist is likely to find that one of the most beautiful Swiss cities, astride a river and turned towards a crystal-clear lake and distant snowy peaks, has plenty of recreation options to keep you busy. The medieval Old Town, characterized by steep, cobbled alleys and attractive, small-scale architecture, comprises a substantial part of the city centre and is perfect for wanderings then and there. With a handful of medieval churches, a spectacular art gallery, the most engaging caf culture in Switzerland and a wealth of nightlife, you can spend a whole lot of time here. To do so, however, you'll have to marry up the appeal of the place with its expense - prohibitive even by Swiss standards. To avoid unnecessary expenses and a handsome saving better if you base yourself in either of the two towns near Zrich - Winterthur or Baden - both of which have museums and galleries of roam about, and much more affordable accommodation than you'll find in Zrich town itself."

Interlaken
Located on lakeside, with a dominance of German-speaking populace in Switzerland, Interlaken offers the winter sport buffs, access to some of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps. Traditionally a 'Summer' resort, Interlaken attracts the winter sports enthusiasts on account of its prime location. Interlaken is known for its healthy climate, as well as the spectacular views. Its excellent hotels and other facilities at reasonable rates during the winter make it an ideal haven for the tourists. Its status became 'official' with the launch of the The Jungfrau Top Ski Region, containing more than 160 Km (100 miles) of trails in ski centers above Grindelwald, all linked to Interlaken by a mountain railway included in a ski pass. The average length of runs in the area is a remarkable six - 12 KM (four - nine miles). With the pass, it has become possible to ski a different ski area every day for a week.

Language Spoken
Four primary languages are spoken in Switzerland. The Federal Constitution stipulates that German, French, and Italian are Switzerland's official languages, whereas Romansh is an official language for communicating with Romansh-speaking persons. English is increasingly taught at an early age, sometimes taking priority over a second national language

Passport/ VISA
UK passport holders require a valid passport, but a visa is not necessary for stays of up to three months if passport is endorsed British Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, or British National Overseas