May, 2021
Liebi Laura,
Greetings to you this May, and I hope you and the family are well. Is all now healed after that kitchen burn? Ouch! I have never heard of a burn whisperer (coup-feu) as you described in your last letter, and my husband hasn’t either. It must be something unique to your side of Switzerland.
Finally, the green trees have come alive on our side, and we are finally enjoying some warmer weather. And it looks like it will stick around all weekend long! It’s also the season of numerous public holidays, where double-checking to see which canton has which day off is required. On the 1st of the Month, the shops in Zürich were closed, but here in Zug, it was business as usual. It will be our turn to enjoy a long weekend in early June while those in Zürich work. Of course, we have the national long weekends too, one just past and one coming this weekend! What about you, how many public holidays are you set to enjoy?
Last weekend despite the public holiday, we stayed home. My husband turns 50, and even though the pandemic has put a spanner in our original plans, we still managed to have an outdoor family BBQ and take advantage of family in town and go on a hike. We tend to stick home for most of these long weekends anyway as the traffic can be atrocious, especially in front of the Gotthard Tunnel. (last weekend it was a 2.5 hour wait to get through!) It usually feels like the entire of Europe is trying to squeeze their way through the two-lane hole in the mountain.
Over Auffahrt long weekend, we also usually stick around, at least for the beginning, as here in Zug, there is a tradition of pilgrimage from Zug to the Abbey in Einsiedeln. Hiking the 26km from Zug to Einsiedeln is a 600+ year tradition, and my husband walks with our local community. Well, in non-pandemic times. This year, just like last, the almost 6-hour hike must be done alone or in small groups.
The view along the hike from Zug to Einsiedeln from last year when the weather was much nicer!
I love the little traditions with a long history here in Switzerland, like the pilgrimage to Einsiedeln and the one you described in your last letter. The tradition in Laussane, you tell, reminds me of an Easter tradition in our village. From Holy Thursday to Easter night, with the church bells muted, locals take turns hourly to turn the «Rätschen», a wooden instrument that creates a deep rattling sound. In Zürich, they used to have their “night watchman”, and while they no longer exist, there are tours you can take (and a cute book about him too).
Have I ever told you about the clock tower in Zug? It is the city’s landmark and makes part of the ancient city wall that I am sure had its nightwatchman back in the day. Today you can actually grab the keys to the tower from the local souvenir store (or the local library when it’s closed) and climb the stairs to take in the views of the old town and across the lake to the newer part of town. It’s a must-do thing for anyone visiting Zug, which is why my daughter took her swiss-french exchange student there while she was visiting.
Photographer: Stacy from Swiss Eats
Are you excited about Strawberry season like I am? My husband, and now even my teenage nephew, refuse to touch a strawberry until the swiss season starts, declaring the fresh local ones are entirely worth the wait. And I know they are right when my patience wears thin and I succumb to the mostly tasteless imported ones. The best ones near us are from a farm near the local golf course or at the “Erdberr hüsli” (Strawberry hut) near the hospital. We always stock up on second class berries, too, freezing them to make jam later in the year. I might even give this recipe for strawberry ice cream a go this year.
It also should be Elderflower season, but this year, with all the rain and cold tempartures the bushes are still bare. Around this time of year cordials, jams and desserts flavoured with the sweet blooms popping up everywhere. Is there always a mad dash to forage them on your side of the röstigraben too? Last year was my first time actually foraging them, and I made my first batch of Elderflower cordial. Little Z declared the “sirup” her very favourite and would take bottles of it mixed with cool water outside to share with her friends. “Sirup” seems to be the swiss-childhood drink of choice around here – is it the same for you?
Until next month,
Liebi Grüsse
Kristin
