I think the locals may care more than us expats. I guess it's almost like a sub-nationality to them.

Back home of someone told me I was from County Durham rather than Northumberland it wouldn't really bother me.

It would seriously bother me if somebody tried to tell me I was from Lancashire rather than Yorkshire.

I hope you aren't from the stolen lands of the west riding then - Saddleworth etc.

Nope.

Maybe we should organise a vote to get it back.

Absolutely, them Catholics have about 7 more holidays in a year.

What's the difference, they are both Shires!

Next you'll be bitching about Worcestershire!

Tom

We get 15.

Including March 19 (Fathers Day)

Tom

So in the English forum election Moutier is too close to call. Write in votes for Zug and Ticino are tied!

If I had the choice I'd pick the one that interfered less in my daily life.

Extra holidays are all well and good, but if it means the shops are closed then I can do without them. Same for normal shop opening hours, given the choice I'd prefer whichever allows longer hours without the stupid idea of shutting early on Saturdays, and preferably allowing Sunday opening too.

So, more public holidays!

And I prefer the opposite!

Tom

I've got the worst of all worlds - living in a Catholic area but working in a Protestant

They're not holidays for me. I don't have an employer to give me time off, except sometimes the ski school, who of course work on holidays anyway. Likewise my apartment rentals.

Why? What's the benefit to you if the shops are open less?

Less people on the road.

Tom

Yes, I can see why you wouldn‘t want to labour under expectations of greatness you could never hope to match

Why would we want to aspire to mediocrity when we already have perfection and greatness?

FTFY

Tell you what. We‘ll keep the Duke of Lancaster and you can keep Randy Andy.

Actually I think the opposite may be even more relevant, that is, local identity is more important than national identity. After all, Berne is far. I wouldn't conceive being moved to Vaud from Geneva, I love this place too much.

That's political geography. Jura is separated from most of Neuchâtel by a full mountain range. It's like saying that Gstaad could be part of Valais because it's closer to Sion than it is to Berne.

Not on which canton, but which PART of the canton.

And NOT for tax reasons.

Tom

Nowadays it is very different. When my great grand-father left Jura because of the Bernese rules and language issues, he found work in NE which was very Protestant then. And the Catholics here were a tiny minority and inter-mariage was absolutely taboo. My grandfather married a Protestant- but it was never talked about. The family went to Mass every Sunday, and mum stayed at home 'to prepare the family meal'- my father only discovered here mother was Protestant when his father died when he was 12. He married my mother in the mid 40s- and it was a massive local scandal. Her from a very wealthy Bourgeois family who employed several 100s from the village and also 'imported' bus loads of Italian young women to work at the factory. Protestant, divorced and with 1 child. And father with an artisan background and fervently Catholic.

I grew up watching how religions divides people - and was not impressed- at all. However things changed rapidly from the 50s- many Italian families arrived, and rapidly increased the Catholic numbers- then the Spanis and the Portuguese. By now, it is about 50/50- and most families are mixed- the Priest and the Vicar work together, mariage, burials, services.

For me, I was about 12 when I realised what nonsense it all it, and rejected religion altogether. OH's parents where a mix of Methodist, CofE and Islam - so he came to that conclusion pretty sharpish!

But just as in Ireland- the history goes way beyond religion per se- it was about power. The native Catholics could only farm the very poor lands, could not access Guilds and professions. Many converted to fit in and climb the ladder.

The most hilarious thing in our family - it that religiously speaking, they were originally Huguenots- who escaped torture and mass killings in France when the Edit de Nantes (1598)- which finally protected freedom of religion, and Protestants from being burnt as heretics- was revoked in 1685. And yet some generations later - slowly but surely- they became Catholics to acceed to the above, better land, better jobs, the Guilds, and so on. I only discovered this because one of our daughters worked on a massive European project with a Project Leader from Canada who had the same surname as me- which they both found amazing. And he sent me loads of info I had no idea about before.

As said before, when a 'country' is given without its consent to another powerful group- and language, religion, culture, laws and 'systems' are enforced on said poplulation- it is a recipe for trouble over a very long time, and resentment is deep, very deep.

BM one of my son-in-laws is a Lancastrian and he is lovely