Picture of the Day

Alpabzug in Urnäsch

I love Switzerland, I love it's traditions, I love it's nature, I love the people, I love it's mountains ... I love everything about it!

In the summers it gets quite hot in the lower parts of the country, for this reason the farmers take their cows, goats and other animals up on the mountains around May, that way the animals have it nice and comfortable during the hot summer months. Sometime in September they get the animals down to the 'main' farms again.

To mark the occasion of this they organise farmers markets, where they sell the produce of these animals such as cheeses, dried meats and other local specialities. Combined with lots of food and activities for kids these are big events and depending on where you go there will be different customs and traditions.

The nicest thing about these events in my opinion is where the procession that comes down from the mountain enters the village. Depending on where you go, there will be different clothing traditions and ways they 'dress-up/decorate' the cows and other animals.

Ever since I learnt about this tradition I wanted to witness it and when I did for the first time in 2014, I was not disappointed.

The picture I select for today depicts this event. We were in the village of Urnäsch in the province of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. In the forefront you see a procession of goats driven by children, who participate as much as the adults do. On the background you see the farmers in their yellow trousers, white shirts, red vests and black hats a dress that is matched by the boy in the forefront herding the goats.

In many places the cows are also decorated or dressed up. In Appenzell it is a bit more minimalistic, but if you would go to Emmenthal they would dress them up with huge flowerworks for example.

If you ever come to Switzerland, try to time it with these events, they are worldfamous and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Doron

!steemitworldmap 47.31715176613422 lat 9.282503130551731 long Urnäsch, AR D3SCR