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Switzerland celebrates the first of August as the
anniversary of 718CE, and its inception in 1292, and
just like every year, the same rituals, symbols and
messages are repeated so as to remember the founding of
the Confederation pact of the 3 original cantons: Uri,
Schwyz and Unterwald.
This year, being marked by economic crisis, higher
unemployment and business closures, has called for a
greater sense of attachment to the origin of individual
families of Switzerland.
By Train to the Commune of Origin
Swiss railways commemorate the national day by letting
each citizen, for the price of 15 francs travel to their
home community, the place that marks the beginning of
the life of all Swiss citizens. In Switzerland, unlike
other countries, the home town of the person is not the
place of birth, but the commune where their first
ancestor acquired “Bourgeoisie”, the place where the
family first bought property and was admitted and
registered as a “citizen” in official records.
Since then the site of origin is passed from generation
to generation. It matters little if you were born in
Geneva or Lugano, ones identity card will be marked
forever with your ancestral commune. It is the deepest
connection with the original Swiss family, and the
starting point of the Swiss identity.
Declining Importance over Time
Until 1987, women when married lost their homes and
became assimilated to the commune of her husband. The
punishment was worse for a Swiss woman if she married a
foreigner, she could therefore not pass on the right of
citizenship to her children. Now however, they retain
all their rights and even their offspring inherit the
status of “Bourgeoisie”, as well as being granted
complete suffrage in 1990. In the past, the importance
of the home community was huge. Taxes, the right to
citizenship, property and marriage licenses were
connected through it, even after marriage.
Tradition Resists
Despite the loss of the importance of communities, the
Swiss have preserved their bureaucratic identity
documents in the name of the ancestral place. Mobility
and migration have led to a few people knowing the
people they belong to legally. But the tradition
remains strong, and inspires the tracing of genealogical
roots.
To bring those who have never put a foot in their
original territory, the Swiss railways promoted the idea
of travelling to the place of origin, a gesture to every
family, original and more symbolic, and equally economic
as that of a patriotic speech repeated.
Swisslatin / Alberto Dufey (Translated by Stephen Hinch)
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