Demons and dragons live in Switzerland

Among the dark green fir forests, cold mountain streams and rustic mountain huts, people have been telling legends for hundreds of years. Short stories about ghosts, witches, dragons or the devil. Dark stories where you never know what’s true. The exhibition “Legends from the Alps” held at the National Museum in Zurich from 16 December to 23 April is dedicated to some of them.

The focus is on Graubünden. Cantonese is particularly exciting due to its trilingualism and is relatively well researched when it comes to legends. Most of the legends of Graubünden are about witches. Damage magic, animal transformation, or witches’ Sabbath are the main motifs.

Between fiction and reality

The exhibition is spread over two rooms. These are as mystical as the stories they bring to life. In the center, a tree grows, illuminated by blue light from the ground. There are countless candles on the floor in one corner, their flames reflected in the mirror. Along the walls are objects from legends: William Tell’s supposed crossbow, or a spiked cross that was supposed to fend off a ghost in “Toggeli’s Defense.”

Unlike fairy tales, legends are linked to real places. Science distinguishes different types. In historical legends such as William Tell’s, real or supposedly real figures appear where they do exist. Satanic epics, on the other hand, deal with the supernatural and the uncanny. Dragons, demons or spirits pursue mischief, things are punished or disasters are threatened. “What fascinates people about this is precisely the blend of fact and fiction,” says Daniela Schwab, the curator of the exhibition.

word of mouth

Sagas are a combination of spoken and written. They occur when people tell each other what they have read. As a result, they spread, but they also change in the process. There are different versions of «Sennentuntschi» scattered throughout the Alpine region. In January, the doll of this legend will be in the State Museum. Currently only available as photos due to delays.

The first mediators of the legends go back to the 16th century. Aargau teacher Arnold Büchli (1885–1970) was a Swiss listener and writer of legends. He created the most comprehensive collection of legends in Switzerland with the “Mythological Regional Studies of Graubünden”.