National symbols of Switzerland are the symbols used to represent Switzerland. As of 2020 the Swiss legislature has made three Swiss national symbols official, a flag, coat of arms, and anthem, but various other symbols are used as well to represent the Swiss people.
| Symbol | Image | Notes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National flag | Flag of Switzerland |  | [1] [2] Current design in official use since 1841 | ||||||
| National coat of arms | Coat of Arms of Switzerland |  | [3] Current design in official use since 1889 | ||||||
| National anthem | Swiss Psalm |
| [4] [5] [6] Preceded by Rufst du, mein Vaterland. Officially in use since 1981 | ||||||
| Symbol | Image | Notes and source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National motto | One for all, all for one (Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno) |  | [7] Traditional and widespread, but not yet official. It has been recognized and used by various Swiss presidents. German: Einer für alle, alle für einen; French: Un pour tous, tous pour un; Italian: Uno per tutti, tutti per uno; Romansh: In per tuts, tuts per in. |
| National personification | Helvetia |  | [8] [9] Unofficial, but shown on the national currency and stamps |
| National flower | Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale) |  | [10] [11] Widely accepted as the Swiss national flower. Has been used on money, rank badges, and insignia and is depicted on the logo of the national tourism organization (myswitzerland.com) |
Switzerland currently does not have a national animal, but the animal most commonly associated with Switzerland, or Alpine culture in general, is the cow. [12] However, various other animals have been used to represent the Swiss nation, such as the marmot, ibex, St. Bernard, and blackbird. [13] [14] [15] There are also a handful of cantons who use a certain animal as a symbol. These include the bear, bull, ram, ibex, lion, and eagle. Other popular Swiss symbols worth mentioning may include Swiss cheese, Swiss chocolate, Rösti, and the Swiss Army knife.
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps and the Jura; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, whereas most of the country's population of 9 million are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts its largest cities and economic centres, including Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.
Extensive telecommunication facilities exist in Switzerland. They include the telephone system, internet, and broadcast media.
The "Swiss Psalm" is the national anthem of Switzerland.
Banking in Switzerland dates to the early 18th century through Switzerland's merchant trade and has, over the centuries, grown into a complex, regulated, and international industry. Banking is seen as emblematic of Switzerland. The country has a long history of banking secrecy and client confidentiality reaching back to the early 1700s. Starting as a way to protect wealthy European banking interests, Swiss banking secrecy was codified in 1934 with the passage of a landmark federal law, the Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks. These laws, which were used to protect assets of persons being persecuted by Nazi authorities, have also been used by people and institutions seeking to illegally evade taxes, hide assets, or generally commit financial crime.
A Moor's head, also known as a Maure, since the 11th century, is a symbol depicting the head of a black moor. The term moor came to define anyone who was Muslim or had black skin.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Switzerland since 1 July 2022. Legislation to open marriage to same-sex couples passed the Swiss Parliament in December 2020. The law was challenged in a referendum on 26 September 2021 by opponents of same-sex marriage and was approved with the support of 64% of voters and a majority in all 26 cantons. The law went into force on 1 July 2022. A provision of the law permitting same-sex marriages performed abroad to be recognised in Switzerland took effect on 1 January 2022. Switzerland was the seventeenth country in Europe and the 30th in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Switzerland are some of the most progressive by world standards. Social attitudes and the legal situation have liberalised at an increasing pace since the 1940s, in parallel to the situation in Europe and the Western world more generally. Legislation providing for same-sex marriage, same-sex adoption, and IVF access was accepted by 64% of voters in a referendum on 26 September 2021, and entered into force on 1 July 2022.
The Group for a Switzerland without an army, is a Swiss political advocacy group founded in 1982 by 120 activists in order to abolish the Swiss army. Its roster has varied considerably; as of 2009 its website stated that it consists of about 20,000 members or supporters, consisting largely of pacifists and anti-militarists.
Crime in Switzerland is combated mainly by cantonal police. The Federal Office of Police investigates organised crime, money laundering and terrorism.
Russia–Switzerland relations are foreign relations between Russia and Switzerland. Switzerland opened a consulate in Saint Petersburg in 1816, upgrading it to a legation 90 years later. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations in 1923, when Russia was going through a period of revolutionary turmoil – and they were not resumed until 1946. Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, relations became tense after Switzerland imposed sanctions against Russia. Russia placed Switzerland on a list of "unfriendly countries".
SWI swissinfo.ch is a Swiss multilingual international news and information company based in Bern. It is a part of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Its content is Swiss-centred, with top priority given to in-depth information on politics, the economy, the arts, science, education, and direct democracy. Switzerland's international political, economic and cultural relations are other key points of focus. The website is available in ten languages.
Mahara McKay is a Swiss model, DJ, producer, teacher and beauty pageant titleholder. she won Miss World Switzerland 2000. Today, she travels the world teaching at Tantra festivals, Healing, Dance and Yoga Festivals, sharing transformative "Tantra Energy" workshops and intensive trainings for anyone ready for change, truth and love.
Thirteen national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2016.
Ten national referendums were held in Switzerland in 2018. Voting took place on 4 March, 10 June, 23 September and 25 November.
Livia Leu stylized Leu Agosti is a Swiss attorney and diplomat. She currently serves as the State Secretary and EU-negotiator since 14 October 2020. Leu previously served as the Swiss Ambassador to Iran between 2009 and 2013. She was the first female from Europe to hold this position. From 2018 to 2020, she served as the Swiss Ambassador to France and Monaco. In fall 2023, she will succeed Paul Seger as Swiss Ambassador to Germany.
Video games in Switzerland have been released since the 1980s. In 2016, there were between 100 and 120 game companies, mostly small, corresponding to about 500 employees and a turnover of about 50 millions Swiss francs.
Switzerland has a long tradition of brewing, with significant domestic beer production and a growing craft brewing sector.
Events in the year 1985 in Switzerland.
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations office was established in 2002, after Switzerland joined the United Nations. It is located at 633 Third Avenue in New York.
Ulrich Niklaus Willi Forster known as Ueli Forster is a Swiss businessman, textile manufacturer and majority owner of Forster Rohner AG, the worldwide leader of embroidery manufacturing, founded in 1904. He was a member of the Banking Council of the Swiss National Bank from 2002 to 2007 as well as the president of Economiesuisse from 2001 to 2006.
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