I remember, back in the good old days, if you were out walking/hiking/running and you came across others out walking/hiking/running it was a case of who could say Gruezi first.
Yesterday I took a short stroll from Rapperswil to Zurich (via Etzel and Sihlwald) and was disappointed by just how few people said it. We joyfully jogged along Gruezing as we went - and although some people responded (mainly the older people - including 1 guy jokingly warning us about a speed camera ) a vast majority didn't.
It was also the first time I noticed how few children were saying it - I blame the influx of auslaenders
So, auslaenders, please do your bit to integrate and adopt the "Gruezi" as your greeting of choice while walking!!
(I am undecided whether this is a complaint or merely an observation - I'll let a mod provide an answer)
Please don't take this the wrong way, but thank god! I look forward to the day where a simple nod or smile is enough, and "gruezi mitternand" goes the way of the dodo. It's so forced, fake and exhausting. Good riddance.
if I am out jogging, I usually can't be bothered to greet every single person I pass, but if we're out walking I say it almost without fail. come to think of it, I have yet to have an experience where I wasn't the first one to say it. what really throws me off is somebody greeting me with a "hello" or "hi".
I always like to greet people with a "grüezi" when I am out running, though I'm never sure whether I'm supposed to greet every single person in a large group, so they get a joint "greuzi mittenand" and hope they all heard me.
Bloody right, it's not so much the word itself I miss but the acknowledgement of others. I suspect that people who don't like to say Grüezi prefer to ignore the existance of others in public space, like to keep to themselves and their likes, while muttering to themselves about all the inferior others, whoever they might be.
Now if you have to look someone in the eye, pause in your self-absorption for a short while, admit that you are indeed in a public space and say Grüezi to that person you pass, whoever that may be, you acknowledge not only that person as sharing the same public space with you, but also that person him- or herself, which is the very essence of being civil.
Can you imagine a person you greet on the street to bump into you? To cut in front of your line or any commit any other incivility? Now that's what Grüezi is for.
I did a bit of cycling over the weekend and whenever I see another cyclist (rather than someone just looking like they were going to the shops) I'd raise my hand (no, not my entire arm, I'm not Alex Wood) in greeting. Often I got one back, for the rest I just assume they felt a twinge of guilt and will be more friendly to the next cyclist.
I gruezi (in my English accent) everyone I see when out hiking. I don't run or jog as I'm not usually late for anything
It's hit-or-miss in our corner of the world about who will initiate a 'Gruezi' first, but I really like the tradition and offer a greeting to anyone we pass who doesn't seem deeply engaged in their own conversation (and even they'll get a 'Gruezi' if they make eye contact with us).
I will say this, though: when I offer a 'Gruezi', one is always returned, and usually with a smile (and a tip of the hat, for men of a certain age).
Except for this one grumpy Aussie, who always complains that the Swiss make too much noise when they hike. Not like in Australia.
Old people (like me) still try to keep up this tradition where possible. Obviously the increased population works ist wily ways; when I go down to the village (as I still call Kloten's centre) the response on the way down or up is still heartening.
I 'Gruezi' all and sundry while out and about in our little village or when venturing further into deepest darkest Schwyz, and still get about a 90% return rate.
But once past the cantonal line... be it ZG, ZH or even of late in SG, a return Gruezi is becoming a rare-ish thing. Schade.
However, suddenly I'm hearing 'Servus!' with an increasing frequency.. are the Austrians (politely) invading?
It's the foreigners who don't greet or inner city misery guts who wouldn't recognize a bit of the green landscape if it fell through the roof and landed on their sofa.
I greet everyone and then insult them if they don't answer back. Call it an opportunity to be friendly with an instant judgment and verdict if ignored.