HomeMy WebLinkAboutVillage Squire, 1980-01, Page 16music is Swiss or German.
August 1 is a Swiss national holiday and
the most important occasion of the year for
the Swiss Club in Mitchell. The day
consists of speeches from the general
assembly, and entertainment is provided
by the local Swiss choir and a Toronto
yodelling club; the Swiss art of flag
throwing is demonstrated, and a man
usually plays an alp horn. A free lunch of
traditional Swiss food is provided. 500 to
800 people attend; some corning from as
far away as Detroit, Ottawa and Montreal.
An August 1 tradition is the burning of a
huge bonfire. Hundreds of years ago
whenever Switzerland was in danger of war
fires were lit on hills to spread the
warnings.
A different kind of celebration is
observed a week or so before Christmas.
About 50 members of the club from the
immediate Mitchell area walk through the
woods to decorate a tree in the wild. They
carry candles and lanterns and drink wine
and sing carols around the tree. Then a
Christmas story is read. Later they gather
at a nearby home of a Swiss family for
lunch.
The Swiss Club Thames Valley enters a
float in most local parades. They took part
in Mitchell's centennial parade in 1967,
and marched in the Octoberfest parade in
1978. In addition, they recently participat-
ed in Stratford's Folk Arts' Festival and
appeared at Mitchell Heritage Days. The
club displayed handmade crafts and
specialty baking as well as traditional
Swiss items, such as wooden milk buckets.
Some members danced and sang, dressed
in traditional Swiss costumes.
Switzerland is divided into more than 20
cantons, and each canton has its own
emblem, flag and several costumes. Men
and women have at (east two costumes --
one for the working day; the other for
Sunday and festive occasions, such as
weddings. The women's festive dresses,
for example, are long and full, made of silk
with great detail on the material and silver
chains hanging down. Most have head-
dresses of velvet and lace. Members of
Thames Valley Swiss Club came from
different parts of the country, and each
brought their canton's costumes. On
special occasions, the club dresses in an
array of traditional costumes. The club also
bought a flag of each canton to use in
decorating for each special event.
Within the club are subdivisions of
special interest to certain members. For
instance, some keep alive the art of flag
twirling -- a ceremonial specialty in Swiss
parades. Others play cowbells that are
designed to ring in various tones and bring
a nostalgic Alps' atmosphere. For awhile, a
few couples danced traditional Swiss
dances, and a lady taught the steps to
young people between the ages of 10 and
18.
Mrs. Schori belongs to the choir, which
consists of 16 to 20 persons. Besides
performing at special functions for the
club, they dress in full costume and sing at
senior citizens' residences.
Two years ago the club hosted a
32 -member choir from Lozwil. Switzerland.
Mrs. Schori sang with the choir when she
was, a young girl growing up in
Switzerland. The group brought full
costumes with them and performed at
various places around the province
including the Parliament Buildings in
Ottawa, Ontario Place in Toronto,
Brodhagen and on a Kitchener TV show.
One of the most moving performances was
given at the Mennonite Church in Elmira.
Some of the Amish people, who carne from
a Swiss background, were very enthusias-
tic about the performance. The choir sang
in English. German, Swiss, French. Italian
and Romantsch, which is between Italian
and Latin.
A few years earlier the club had
sponsored a hockey team from Switzerland
that played against various Canadian
teams in the area.
One of the most active groups within the
Thames Valley Swiss Club is the rifle club,
which was formed three years ago for both
male and female members. They built a
shooting stand south of Mitchell with
targets at a distance of 300 yards. Guns
and ammunition are supplied through the
Swiss consul in Toronto (i.e. a certain
number of rounds of ammunition per club
member are provided).
The rifle club meets each Sunday during
the summer and is for members of the
You are invited
to come to the factory
and see the quality
for yourself.
FACTORY OPEN FOR INSPECTION
WEEKDAYS 8:30-11:30 a.m., 1-3 p.m.
OR BY APPOINTMENT.
A7.11=
•
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Now also building
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An alternate form of
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14 Village Squire, January 1980