Editing Alps (section)

== Alpine people and culture ==

{{further|Transhumance in the Alps|Swiss folklore}}
The population of the region is 14&nbsp;million spread across eight countries.<ref name = "Chatré8"/> On the rim of the mountains, on the plateaus, and on the plains the economy consists of manufacturing and service jobs whereas in the higher altitudes and the mountains farming is still essential to the economy.<ref>Chartes et. el. (2010), 14</ref> Farming and forestry continue to be mainstays of Alpine culture, industries that provide for export to the cities and maintain the mountain ecology.<ref name="Chartes et. el. 2010, 5">Chartes et. el. (2010), 5</ref>

The Alpine regions are multicultural and linguistically diverse. Dialects are common and vary from valley to valley and region to region. In the Slavic Alps alone 19 dialects have been identified. Some of the Romance dialects spoken in the French, Swiss and Italian alps of [[Aosta Valley]] derive from [[Arpitan]], while the southern part of the western range is related to [[Occitan language|Occitan]]; the German dialects derive from Germanic tribal languages.<ref name="Shoumataff 2001, 114–166">Shoumataff (2001), 114–166</ref> [[Romansh language|Romansh]], spoken by two percent of the population in southeast Switzerland, is an ancient [[Rhaeto-Romance languages|Rhaeto-Romanic language]] derived from Latin, remnants of ancient Celtic languages and perhaps [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]].<ref name="Shoumataff 2001, 114–166"/>

[[File:Hallstatt - Nordansicht.JPG|thumb|[[Hallstatt]] is known for its production of salt, dating back to prehistoric times.]]
Much of the Alpine culture is unchanged since the medieval period when skills that guaranteed survival in the mountain valleys and the highest villages became mainstays, leading to strong traditions of carpentry, woodcarving, baking, pastry-making, and cheesemaking.<ref name = "Shoumatoff123ff">Shoumataff (2001), 123–126</ref>

Farming has been a traditional occupation for centuries, although it became less dominant in the 20th century with the advent of tourism. Grazing and pasture land are limited because of the steep and rocky topography of the Alps. In mid-June, cows are moved to the highest pastures close to the snowline, where they are watched by herdsmen who stay in the high altitudes often living in stone huts or wooden barns during the summers.<ref name = "Shoumatoff123ff"/> Villagers celebrate the day the cows are herded up to the pastures and again when they return in mid-September. The [[Almabtrieb|Almabtrieb, Alpabzug, Alpabfahrt, Désalpes]] ("coming down from the alps") is celebrated by decorating the cows with garlands and enormous [[cowbell]]s while the farmers dress in traditional costumes.<ref name = "Shoumatoff123ff"/>

[[File:LeMonal-fontaine-chapelle-Savoie.JPG|thumb|left|In the summers the cows are brought up to the high mountain meadows for grazing. Small summer villages such as the one shown in this photograph taken in [[Savoy]] are used.]]

Cheesemaking is an ancient tradition in most Alpine countries. A wheel of cheese from the [[Emmental]] in Switzerland can weigh up to {{cvt|45|kg|-1}}, and the [[Beaufort cheese|Beaufort]] in [[Savoy]] can weigh up to {{cvt|70|kg|lb|-1}}. Owners of the cows traditionally receive from the cheesemakers a portion about the proportion of the cows' milk from the summer months in the high alps. Haymaking is an important farming activity in mountain villages that have become somewhat mechanized in recent years, although the slopes are so steep that scythes are usually necessary to cut the grass. Hay is normally brought in twice a year, often also on festival days.<ref name = "Shoumatoff123ff"/>

In the high villages, people live in homes built according to medieval designs that withstand cold winters. The kitchen is separated from the living area (called the ''stube'', the area of the home heated by a stove), and second-floor bedrooms benefit from rising heat. The typical Swiss [[chalet]] originated in the Bernese Oberland. Chalets often face south or downhill and are built of solid wood, with a steeply gabled roof to allow accumulated snow to slide off easily. Stairs leading to upper levels are sometimes built on the outside, and balconies are sometimes enclosed.<ref name = "Shoumatoff123ff"/><ref>Shoumataff (2001), 134</ref>
[[File:Schaufschod 2009 05.JPG|thumb|Herding sheep in Austria]]

Food is passed from the kitchen to the stube, where the dining room table is placed. Some meals are communal, such as [[fondue]], where a pot is set in the middle of the table for each person to dip into. Other meals are still served traditionally on carved wooden plates. Furniture has been traditionally elaborately carved and in many Alpine countries, carpentry skills are passed from generation to generation.
[[File:Toit de Lauzes.jpg|thumb|left|Alpine chalet being built in Haute-Maurienne (Savoy). The use of thick pieces of [[orthogneiss]] (4–7&nbsp;cm) is by the strict architectural regulations in the region bordering the national parks of Vanoise-Grand Paradis.]]
Roofs are traditionally constructed from Alpine rocks such as pieces of [[schist]], gneiss, or [[slate]].<ref>Shoumataff (2001), 131, 134</ref> Such chalets are typically found in the higher parts of the valleys, as in the [[Maurienne]] valley in [[Savoy]], where the amount of snow during the cold months is important. The inclination of the roof cannot exceed 40%, allowing the snow to stay on top, thereby functioning as insulation from the cold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cauesavoie.org/wp-content/uploads/Fascicule-haute-maurienne.pdf |title=Cahier d'architecture Haute Maurienne/Vanoise |access-date=March 15, 2014 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103230446/http://www.cauesavoie.org/wp-content/uploads/Fascicule-haute-maurienne.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In the lower areas where the forests are widespread, wooden tiles are traditionally used. Commonly made of [[Norway spruce]], they are called "tavaillon".

In the German-speaking parts of the Alps ([[Austria]], [[Bavaria]], [[South Tyrol]], [[Liechtenstein]] and [[Switzerland]]) and also [[Slovenia]], there is a strong tradition of Alpine [[folk culture]]. Old traditions are carefully maintained among inhabitants of Alpine areas, even though this is seldom obvious to the visitor: many people are members of cultural associations where the Alpine [[folk culture]] is cultivated. At cultural events, traditional [[folk costume]] (in German ''[[Tracht]]'') is expected: typically [[lederhosen]] for men and [[dirndl]]s for women. Visitors can get a glimpse of the rich customs of the Alps at public [[Volksfest]]e. Even when large events feature only a little folk culture, all participants take part with gusto. Good opportunities to see local people celebrating the traditional culture occur at the many fairs, wine festivals, and firefighting festivals which fill weekends in the countryside from spring to autumn. Alpine festivals vary from country to country. Frequently they include music (e.g. the playing of [[Alpenhorn]]s), dance (e.g. [[Schuhplattler]]), sports (e.g. wrestling marches and archery), as well as traditions with pagan roots such as the lighting of fires on [[Walpurgis Night]] and [[Saint John's Eve]]. Many areas celebrate [[Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht|Fastnacht]] in the weeks before [[Lent]]. Folk costume also continues to be worn for most weddings and festivals.<ref>Shoumataff (2001), 129, 135</ref><ref name="marcopolo1">Anita Ericson, ''Österreich'' [Marco Polo travel guide], 13th edition, Marco Polo, Ostfildern (Germany), 2017, Pp. 21f.</ref>