It reminded me how in australia, some people judge how aussie you are base on the number of generations your family has been in australia. Some are actually proud that their ancestors where on one of the first ships ("But that means he was a convict!", "no, my ancestor was actually the captain of that ship" yeah right )
Anyway back to Switzerland, do you know anyone who thinks they are Eidgenosse? Are they as worthy of making fun of as their Aussie counterparts?
It, and your story about Aussies, reminds me of how things are in the US as well.
On my mother's side of the family, my great-grandparents are all immigrants but on my father's side, through his father, we can trace our family being in the Americas back to before the American Revolution. In some circles, this is a big deal, in others it's "meh" and in others it is seen as a snobbish distinction.
There's actually a "club" (something) called DAR or Daughters of American Revolution to which my sisters and I could join which would have given another source of (potential) scholarship for university. Thinking about it, I should make sure my brother and his wife know about it as my niece is the only female child in our next generation.
Meanwhile, I wonder if there are similar "society" groups and privileges among Swiss who can trace their lineage to constant growth within the country.
Let's realize that the official name of Switzerland is
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft
Confédération Suisse
Confederazione Svizzera
Swiss Confederation
-- and so, Confederates
Even I am an Eidgenossen and have a Tracht to prove it.
Schwiizer (Schwyzer) from the Kanton Schwiiz (Canton of Schwyz)
Schwiizer (Schweizer) from Switzerland
So that in case of them, the term "Eidgenosse" makes lots of sense
Mr Stauffacher not just was from the Canton of Schwyz, but having been a kind of lawyer of his time, he defacto is THE founder of Switzerland. There is a reason that in Zurich, a whole quarter is named after him.
In Switzerland, you learn the dates of the battles in school. Most people forget the details, but most remember 1315 at the Morgarten
Most men in Switzerland including many foreigners tend to have up to four pocket-knifes in their pockets.
Trachten have not much to do with the Swiss Confederation, but are in existence all over the European Continent
And before I forget it, you as a woman canNOT be an Eidgenosse, but can be an Eidgenossin
It's almost something like being proud to be English, because Will & Kate are marrying. Everyone thinks monarchy is not good and costs way too much, but if something happens everyone is on the street.
There is only one exception. If the guy does "Schwingen", then being an "Eidgenosse" means that he is very good at this sport, as he was ranked among the best ones during the tri-annual "Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest" (the most important tournament in that sport).
Normally, there is a "Burgergemeinde" a "commune of citizens" in every commune which consists of the families from that place and (usually) owns some land.
Depending on where you are a Burger, that can mean not much (as in my case) or quite a lot, as for example the "Bernburger" from the city of Bern are the richest "association" in Switzerland, owning property estimated at close to a billion francs.
But I would not say that he is a nationalist. This word has sort of a dirty annotation.
Thanks!
I know hubby's family (on his mother's side) is from Luzern area, I'm curious how long they've been that region.
My family has quite a rich history in the US (some working with / for Capone, one was an "Old West" era outlaw complete with hanging and of course some more mundane farmers and such), I wonder what "treasures" (stories) of history I'd find in hubby's family.
Yes, I know several who thought they were, but it turned out that I knew way more about Swiss history and migration patterns round Europe over the last few thousand years than they did... (Though, having 4 official languages should have been a big clue to them )
So: No, they now know that there's no such thing as proper Swiss
As an aside, regarding Daughters of The American Revolution, my OH can trace her roots back to pre-Pilgrim Fathers. Sounded pretty impressive. Then, when we moved to Scotland, I happened to point out to her that when they were building the house we now live in, Columbus had already discovered America - but he hadn't yet brought the news back to Europe
Also passed my old school another time, and in passing observed that the founding of the school predated the old Swiss federal charter of 1291 by four or five decades
There's a lot more history out there than people sometimes realise
My lineage makes me an EidgenossIN. And to prove it, I can even dance to Steiner Chilbi and play a few bars on the Hand Orgeln. Just don't ask me to yodel.
Hey, I even have Muotathaler blood running through my veins.
I'm quite sure the below man is related to me:
Next please.
Wow! I am impressed. Can you trace all the in between generations by name as well? I thought I was doing well to be able to trace back just ten generations.
This room is part of my heritage. (Taken at Schloss Sargans)
Now I'm off to put on my Schweizer T-shirt and go to the local cow show for a Cafe Zwetchgen. Prost Zämä!