Zurich ?
 

My wife has asked me to find out about a Swiss tradition where cows march into the city with flowers around their heads and bells on. I think it signifies the coming of spring. Does anyone know when they do this?

Zurich is a rather large city, so I doubt it happens there... but I think there are smaller villages where they have this tradition. In spring or early summer, the cows would be moved to higher elevations, and then back down during the late summer or fall. There are a lot of "Swiss" fans on this board, they'll catch up to you tomorrow, I'm sure.

We were in Appenzell several years ago in the fall. We had just come back to the room after breakfast and heard cow bells and a ruckus. Looked out of the window and the street was full of cows and herders.Went downstairs to see what was going on. It was (I think) Kuhtag (which translates to cowday.) It was the annual day to judge cows and have a gay old time. They paraded thru town to the parade grounds, were judged, given flowers to wear around their necks and then went thru town again. We followed them and had a great day. There was a lunch in our hotel of all of the human participants. We went. There was yodeling and a great time was had by all. It was a serendipity but I highly recommend it. CJ

I saw the cows herded through the streets in Interlachen this September and also in the town of Lauterbrunnen in September 1998. So both times in the fall.

Travelnut said it correctly. In the late spring (usually late May or June), cows are herded into higher elevations as soon as there is enough grass. In some places, the cows are herded directly from the farm. If the alp is farther away, the farmer will transport the cows as far as he can and then walk with them the rest of the way.

The lowland farmlands are then used for hay and they get 3-4 cuttings from it.

In some places, they make the herding of the cows very festive. The herders dress in local costumes and put flowers on the cows. I've seen this in Kanton Bern and Appenzell.

The cows come down again late August or early September. Cow markets/competitions (like the US county fair) are then held in local towns during September and October. The cows are shown, given a prize and sometimes find new owners. There is usually jodeling and dancing in the evening on these days.

One never knows exactly when the herding days are because it depends on the weather and grass conditions in the alps.

I've helped herd a couple of times. You walk next to the cows with a stick and try to keep them together. When you finally get to your destination in the alps, you are greeted by the Alpler (the farmer who takes care of the cows in the alps) and have a nice conversation about farm prices, weather, etc. while sitting down to a nice coffee with brandy in an old (or new) alphut. After about 1/2 hour, you leave and walk back down the mountain again. Pure bliss.

You may be thinking about the cow fights which usually take place in Canton Valais in April.

Go here for information about all the major Swiss festivals:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/etc/fwe/fwe14.htm