Friday, July 31, 2009

Swiss? Get Your Groceries Today!

Tomorrow, Switzerland will celebrate its 718th birthday. The Swiss among you might remember that in 1993 we voted that this day should be a work free holiday. In Swiss logic this means the shops are closed too.

Tomorrow this will completely backfire. Our national holiday will be on a Saturday. We would not have to work anyway. And yes, we have to do the shopping for the entire* weekend today - on a bloody workday. The shops might even close earlier than usual on a Friday since it's the eve of a holiday.



* shops are closed on Sundays.

7 comments:

Gauss Jordan said...

As an American, I'm amazed by the such things. My country is a little more than 1/4 the age of yours. My city was built up maybe a century ago. My town expanded into this area a decade ago.

I think if I lived in Europe, I'd have a greater appreciation for history.

Mr. Urs said...

@Gauss Jordan...
It was not really Switzerland back then:
On August 1, 1291 the Rütlischwur, a legendary oath of the Old Swiss Confederacy, was made on a quaint meadow (apocryphal date & place).
De facto independence from the Holy Roman Empire came not until 1499, however this was not recognized until 1648. And the federal state was only founded in 1848.
The state I was born was a colony of Switzerland until 1803 (Napoléon Bonaparte liberate us), though my village belonged to the Catholic church, but death warrants could only be signed by the Swiss reeve (I know, it's complecated).

Ms Mac said...

Gahh! I'd forgotten that the shops might shut earlier today. I really need to get moving and buy some stuff for the grill before it's too late and we starve all weekend!

MartininBroda said...

Dann hat dein Dorf also in einem Untertanenland gelegen, die Schweizer Geschichte erscheint manchmal wirklich etwas unübersichtlich, hoffentlich denke ich daran, dir morgen einen frohen Rütli-Tag zu wünschen.

Mr. Urs said...

@Martin... Ja, man nannte das auch Gemeine Herrschaft. "So haben wir die Landschaft Thurgau frey und ledig gesprochen", hiess es im Freilassungsbrief der Tagsatzung vom 3. März 1798. Kein Wort vom französischen Druck.

Pilgrim said...

At least those of you swiss who live near a border can go shop in this neighboring country.Propz Pilgrim

Unknown said...

so tell us if it was that mad of a rush!