Colors of Geneva - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Perhaps, multinationality is one of the most striking features of local residents. During a simple walk in the city travelers can hear French, German and even Italian languages. However, some traits are common to all indigenous people, irrespective of their religion and main language. They are very hardworking and adore order. Many say that the locals are very secretive. They do not like talking about work and personal life. Moreover, they will never show their wealth and, especially, will unnecessarily indicate high social position.

In local schools children learn all of these languages, but, as a rule, they can usually speak well only one of them. Local people are very religious, according to statistics, less than 5% of citizens do not adhere to any religion. The remaining 95% regularly attend religious shrines and have great respect towards religious holidays and customs. Residents of Geneva are very friendly to tourists, but you should not expect that can talk on any subject with the first stranger.

Escalade, which is celebrated each December, is one of most famous and colorful national holidays. A large historical procession is the culmination of the festival. The townspeople dress up in medieval costumes and walk on main city streets with an orchestra consisting of flute and drum players. Hot red wine is considered the main drink of the holiday. It can be tasted in many coffee houses of the city. From early morning till late at night the Old Town becomes the venue of numerous music concerts, theatrical performances and various competitions. The festival named Days of Geneva is no less interesting. It takes place on early August and is also accompanied by numerous popular festivities. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Geneva is a city-holiday, the place of hundreds of festivals, concerts and colorful shows, amazing in its scope and rich entertainment program. Many of them become a pleasant discovery for travelers who chose the city for their guided tour to Europe, as they have long gained world fame and are among the largest in Switzerland. Over the course of the year, more than 500 festivals, concerts are held in the region of Lake Geneva: jazz, rock, and pop. This is the Geneva Festival, which is the favorite holiday among local people and tourists. Geneva Festival is the city holiday, which lasts 5 days. Usually, it is preceded by a rich cultural program. Originally, the event was known as the festival of flowers; but with time, the program of the festival was enriched with various entertaining programs: concerts, musical performances, regatta, fairs, culinary competitions and wine tastings. The festival comes to an end with musical fireworks which can be enjoyed almost for an hour.

In May, during the days of wine festivals on Lake Geneva, local winemakers open the cellars and invite guests to join such a brilliant atmosphere. These merry days are a great opportunity not only to taste good wines but also to buy your favorites, as well as to join the local traditions and cuisine of the region. In December and January, Trees and the Light festival is taking place in Geneva, during which the city is garnished with luminous installations made by masters from different countries, acquiring the outlines of a fairy-magic world. In November, one of the most grandiose fairs takes place. Here you will be astonished by a number of goods collected on the fair: flowers and exotic plants, food and delicacies, wine and beverages. The heaven for gourmets!

From December 9 to 11, the L'Escalade festival takes place in Geneva annually. This is one of the oldest and most popular patriotic festivals of the city, celebrating the victories of the townspeople over the troops of the Duke of Savoy in 1602. Traditionally this day on the streets are selling cups of hot vegetable soup, and in the windows of confectionery vegetable pots made of chocolate and nougat, painted in the colors of Geneva and filled with marzipan vegetables. The culmination of the holiday is the evening costume procession with lit torches. If you will be in Geneva in September, try to visit the near town Roussin, where the Vintage festival takes place. During the festival, there will be a lot of fun, dances, beverages and in particular, the best home-made wine. The best carnivals are held in spring like Yverdon-les-Bains, Lausanne, Orbe, and Payerne. Along with the carnivals, fashionable costume balls, traditional torch processions, medieval competitions, and contests will welcome visitors and tourists from all over the world to share the Swiss spirit.