Cow Fights in the Alps? Discovering a Centuries Old Swiss Tradition **Video**

Tucked away in the heart of the Valaisian Alps, a lesser known Swiss tradition continues to ring the bells of the hearts of the village citizens of this pastoral side of the Switzerland.

Swiss Cow Fighting.

Throughout the world people hold events that to some of the world might be considered rather violent. Take for example, bull fighting in Spain. To Spaniards, the sport has been a centuries long tradition that showcases bravery and honor for both the bull and the fighter. To the rest of the world, this tradition can seem barbaric and cruel for the animals involved.

When one hears the phrase "Swiss Cow Fighting", images can be conjured of cows running around in a violent display of gore and stampede. At least that is what I thought when I first heard the term. But to my surprise, the tradition is safe and displays the heart of Swiss culture and tradition.

Once, sometimes twice a year, villagers from several different locations along the Valaisian Alps bring their cow herds down from the high lush green pastures into the lower farmland valleys of these Alps. From the heard, the villagers examine all of their pregnant cows to see which one is the strongest and most angry. The villagers use pregnant cows because they are very territorial and are protective of their unborn calfs. Then they take that cow to compete in the ring.

The villagers join together in a paradisiacal like valley surrounded by lush green alp mountainside and flowing clear waterfalls and streams. The head of the competition creates an arena which is mostly a circle made with some twine and sticks formed like a fence. Then the regalia starts. Amidst some pomp, the pregnant bow vines are proudly lead one by one towards the bout by their owners down towards the arena. Each cow is painted with a number so that people can begin to bet on which one will win the day.

The objective of the cow fight is no more than pride, and little money for the winner. The winning cow is the one that out lasts all other cows that challenge it. The villagers compete for bragging rights about who has the strongest cow that will be the most dominate that year. That cow and owner becomes the pride of their corresponding village.

As the cows spread across the pastoral circle, 5 or 6 different "referees" step into the arena carrying large willow sticks. As the the time draws near to the beginning of the fight, the cows are extremely restless and already growling and stomping up the turf. With a blow of a whistle the villagers leave the circle and with a thundering vibration, the cows charge. A ruckus of Swiss cow bells erupt as the alphas begin to mark their territory.

As the cows lock horns across the arena, the referees use their sticks to whack any cows that look like they are going to double team a cow while it is fighting another. This is one of the rules, it is strictly a one on one battle.

Tourists, city folk, and villagers alike line the roped circle cheering on their favorite steer. Cows lock horns and throw each other around sometimes outside of the arena. Observing from afar, I witnessed a pair of cows locked in a heated battle push themselves unexpectedly towards the crowd and straight towards an older Swiss woman. As the cows came dangerously close to her, she, obviously a veteran spectator, slapped the cow on the hind end and shook her find while saying "No". The cows must have heard her because they began to push the fight away from her.

One by one, each cow, after being tested, began to bow out of the competition relinquishing its ground to the more dominate of the beasts.

The finale of the fight saw two cows that had been locked in a gruesome battle for over 45 minutes and had pushed themselves up a hill well out of the arena boundaries. Each cow had been the winner of the fights the two past years and they were at it again. When one of the cows finally gave up and trotted down the hill, the crowd erupted in cheers adulation as villagers hugged, shook hands, gave each other the customary Swiss double kiss and poured each other a stein of stout. It was another glorious victory for the two year reigning champion in setting of one of the most picturesque valleys in Switzerland.

These cow fights are just another example of why I love to travel. Discovering different cultures and their traditions fascinates me to no end. These traditions motivate me to explore other lesser known traditions not only of Swiss culture but of cultures all across the globe. These traditions teach us not only to honor the traditions from our own country but to learn more about ourselves from the world around us.

In your travels, what are some of your favorite lesser known cultural traditions that you have discovered?

Leysin: The Ideal Swiss Village for a Vacationer's Stay

Nestled in the top of the Swiss alps, Leysin sits as a romantic sleepy village perfect for experiencing
true Swiss culture and picturesque views.

Originally created as a sanatorium for those suffering from tuberculosis around the turn of the 20th century, Leysin has transformed into a charming symbol of Swiss hospitality.

During its sanatorium days, several medical companies and investors built large and spacious chalet style hotels that would house the sick patients. They decided to transform Leysin into a sanatorium because they found that fresh air and sunlight had healing effects for those suffering from this disease. These giant chalets came equipped with several balconies where the patients could lye about in the sunlight for hours to get their recommended vitamin D. Leysin became such a famous place for those suffering with this disease that people from all over the world would come in hopes of being healed while relaxing in such a beautiful spot of the world. It was so famous that the Swiss endedLeysin's glory days and give a sense of identity to the village itself.
up building a cogwheel train that took patrons straight up the mountain instead of a winding dirt road of switchbacks through the alps. Knowing that they would have celebrities coming to this town, the Swiss also built a more secluded set of tracks that could take celebrities to the chalets without making their identity known. Today these architectural marvels stand as a reminder of

After the days of the sanatorium had past, what was this village going to do to stay afloat? Why not Leysin is known by it citizens as a beautiful place to ski in the winter and mountain bike in the summer. The local ski resort is open year round and caters to skiers looking for a thrill in the alpine scenery as well as provides steep dirt biking trails for those who want to explore more off the beaten path. The town also rents motorbikes and scooters for getting around the narrow cobble streets.
become a ski resort and adventure sport town. Today

The town itself is characterized by cobblestone switchback streets, trickling springs, green pastures filled with herds of iconic Swiss cows and several small hotels and mountain inns, most of which were built around the turn of the century. We stayed at a hotel called Au Bel Air which was located right next to the ski lift in the upper part of town. The hotel was simple, cozy and offered everything we needed at an affordable price. The proprietor is very amiable and prides himself on knowing that your needs are met. This hotel was perfect. It was nestled in middle of the alps with the typical Swiss chalet design. In the morning you could wake up to amazing views of the alps and the clinging sound Swiss cow bells as the beasts munched on the dew laden grass.

If mountain skiing or mountain biking aren't your thing, Leysin hosts many hiking trails that let you explore the surrounding area. My favorite is the Profandaz lookout trail. Its about a two mile steep hike that leads you high above the village to one of the most beautiful lookouts in the world. The trail leads you past the cobblestone and into the forests, glens, and pastures that characterize the beauty of the alps. Once you get to the lookout, you are able to see the sunset over Lake Geneva. This hike is definitely worth looking into. I took at least a hundred pictures while up there. If you go early enough in the spring, you can walk through the fields of wild flowers in bloom.

After exploring almost of all of Switzerland, there is nowhere else I would have stayed than Leysin. Though it is a sleepy little village, there is still plenty to do and explore while relaxing with the amazing views the the Swiss alps have to offer. So if you want to experience true beauty, take a trip to Leysin and breath in Switzerland.