When autumn comes, the cattle of the alp come home!

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and it's time for livestock and herders to leave their alpine pastures and return home.

Every year between the beginning of September and the middle of October, all over Switzerland observe the "Alpabzug", one of the most famous Alpine festivals in Switzerland, and one of the most beautiful.

About 400,000 cattle, 200,000 sheep and goats (and even alpacas) spend their summers in alpine pastures in Switzerland. The return of cattle and herdsmen has been celebrated as an ancient custom. Originally, the holiday was a Thanksgiving to celebrate the summer without accidents or losses. Depending on the weather, people celebrate the return of cattle and herders between mid-August and mid-September.

About 20% of Switzerland's total livestock spend 100 days in 7,000 alpine pastures, watched over by 17,000 men and women herders.

The festival celebrates the safe passage of cattle and herders through the summer and their safe return home. It also marks the end of the summer grazing season and the arrival of autumn.

Every time they return, the most striking thing is that the cows wear colorful flower crowns, especially those who produce the most milk or lead cows, are carefully dressed up.

The design of the crown (the so-called "tschappl") also varies from farm to farm, with decorations mainly using seasonal flowers and branches, such as sunflowers, chrysanthemums or dahlias, and larger decorations using paper flowers to reduce weight. According to local customs, people will also be decorated with crosses, wooden boards, styrofoam Kings, upside-down milking stools, or directly on the horns of the cow.

A colorful livestock parade is the main attraction of the celebration, along with a visit to the market, traditional performances, local delicacies, concerts and, in some areas, the distribution of fine cheese from the alpine ranch!

The festival is not only a time for herders to celebrate the harvest, but also an important part of Swiss rural life, demonstrating the Swiss people's love for traditional agricultural life and respect for nature. The festival attracts many visitors each year to experience authentic Swiss traditional culture.

Switzerland wants the tradition, which dates back to the 14th century, to gain global recognition as part of its culture and has submitted an application for the Alpine herding practice to be added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The time of the "cattle Down Festival" in some areas this year is:

🐂 Gstaad Zuglete: Aug. 31, regardless of the weather.