MOKA
A new day begins with the pleasant “gurgle” of the Moka: the coffee is ready! After lunch and dinner, a good espresso is a must. The “Moka” is the traditional coffee machine that all Italians have at home. It has become famous all over the world and represents a true icon of made in italy - its splendor outlives the competition of the new modern coffee machines. Every moment is ideal ... Fancy a coffee... shall we prepare a Moka?

Traditions are a valuable asset. Traditions are customs and practices that are passed down from generation to generation. Often seasonal. The World Snow Festival, now in its 40th year, is one such tradition. In our image, we visualize the winter solstice with the return of light as a new beginning of the natural annual cycle, into which new plans, visions, wishes and desires for the coming year are integrated. The World Snow Festival has become a winter ritual. Our Winter Solstice statue is also a gateway to the future and confirms these traditions.

In order to connect the two terms “tradition” and “sculpture”, the Blondeau team went back to the beginnings of human history to prehistoric sculptures.

It was surprising to discover that although the bestiary is very diverse, the anthropomorphic representations are almost exclusively female. Statuettes such as the Venus of Willendorf, the Venus of Lespugue, the Venus of Dolní Vestonice, the Venus of Moravany and many others depict stylized, voluptuously shaped female bodies that are generally interpreted as deities symbolizing fertility, prosperity and opulence. The Blondeaux team pays tribute to our ancestors, the primitive peoples, who worshipped the Pachamama, Mother Earth, who can be as generous and protective as she is punishing if she does not receive material and spiritual recognition. The Venus of Grindelwald welcomes us with all her maternal benevolence.

Traditions are our heritage ... passed down from generation to generation to strengthen our sense of belonging. We are proud of the rituals that make us part of our community. We have chosen the Swiss tradition of adorning the cows with headdresses of late summer flowers and very large bells when they return from the mountains to spend the winter in the sheltered valleys below. The mountains are represented by the tops of the traditional Swiss cheese that the cows produce.

The figure of eight, or double figure of eight knot.
Mountaineering and climbing have a long tradition in the Grindelwald region. In the second half of the 19th century, one of the first centers of alpinism was established here. Back then, adventurers from England in particular were accompanied by local mountain guides to the summits of the surrounding mountains in the Jungfrau massif. Of course, this sport, like most others, has become more modern; the equipment has been optimized and has become lighter and more sophisticated. However, very simple and tried-and-tested things have remained, such as the double figure-of-eight knot, to which the majority of mountaineers still entrust their lives to this day - as a connection between the sit harness and the climbing rope.

Be brave.
Traditions have to be learned. No matter who you are and where you come from, you can adapt and learn the tradition. And don’t worry if it doesn’t go too well at the beginning. Just start! You’re gonna make it! It’s gonna be wonderful!

SCULPTURE “MARTINA”
Cows have been farm animals for humans for as long as we have been alive, supporting us in our everyday lives or simply looking beautiful. For example, at the traditional cattle drive. This traditional event heralds the end of the mountain summer. Our teacher in Empfertshausen also has cows. This man shaped our understanding of woodcarving and we have fond memories of his favorite cow, Martina. In honor of the tradition of the Almabtrieb and our teacher's favorite cow, we would like to create a cow at this year's festival in Grindelwald.

Dance is a long cultural tradition. It serves to express beliefs, values, history, social norms and traditions. Here are two turtles enjoying the moment.

“Tradition in transition - from tube television to the Lauberhorn race”

The sculpture shows an old CRT television set with a dynamic scene of the Lauberhorn race bursting out of its interior. A skier plunges out of the screen onto an implied snow slope, while a finish gate stands in front of him. The knobs and the housing of the television set lend the work a nostalgic character and are reminiscent of the early days of TV broadcasting of such events.

With this sculpture, the team from Bern, which is standing in for the team from Peru, is setting an example for the preservation and passing on of traditions. It combines technological history and sporting passion to create a work that unites past and present.

Origins
The roots of the Shahmaran legend can be traced back to ancient myths. The Hittite Illuyanka myth tells of the battle between Illuyanka, a serpent-like creature, and the storm god Teshub. Another possible source of inspiration is Medusa from Greek mythology, whose head was cut off by Perseus.

Anatolian fairy tales
There are numerous places in Anatolia that are believed to be the residence of Shahmaran. One legend claims that she lives in the district of Tarsus in Mersin. Another sees her in Yılankale, between Ceyhan and Misis in Adana. The Şahmaran district (village) at the foot of Şahmaran Mountain in the Islahiye district of Gaziantep is also associated with the legend. This place is located 10 km southeast of Islahiye, near the ruins of Yesemek from the Hittite period. People believe that Shahmaran lived in this mountain. The death of Shahmaran is a common element in all variants of the legend. The primary purpose of Shahmaran's death is often associated with humanity's quest for health and healing. In some versions, Lokman Hekim's encounter with Shahmaran is described in great detail, including how Shahmaran reveals to him the secrets of medicinal herbs.

9th grade, School Grindelwald
We are the 9th grade of the School Grindelwald and, together with our class teacher Sandra Hägele, we have designed the following project on the subject of “Tradition”.

“Chiejer-Glyt in den Bärgen” - ”Cow bells in the mountains”
There is nothing more beautiful than hearing the cowbells on the alp in summer. The ringing echoes through the mountains and creates a magical atmosphere.

The snow sculpture depicts a polar bear standing on a harpsichord. It refers to Mani Matter's song ‘Eskimo’ and symbolises the tradition of Swiss music.
It combines artistic craftsmanship with cultural heritage and is a reminder of the deep-rooted importance of music and stories in Swiss identity.

Shock wave: From time immemorial, people have passed on traditions, customs, practices, beliefs, etc. from generation to generation... Around 40,000 years ago, during the Prehito period, the first Homo sapiens settled on the cold lands of the musk oxen in northwestern Eurasia. For an original reason, which has been lost over the millennia, these people drew animals on rock faces or in caves, including musk oxen, which are depicted in the oldest painted cave in Europe. The Chauvet cave, which was discovered in the Ardèche in 1994, has been dated to be 36,000 years old. Even today, people still communicate via walls. Graffiti is the form of expression of our time. And in 40,000 years' time? Will art on walls still exist?

The theme of sculpture lies in the geometric creation of order, which involves reduction to the maximum in order to achieve the “aesthetic essence”, which is reached when nothing can be taken away and only that which is remains - influenced by concepts of Concrete Art and Minimalism, it is about the balance and transformation of what is, and about questions of attachment, detachment and the transience of existence in time/in public space. “The aim of concrete art is to develop objects for spiritual use, just as humans design objects for material use.