Birgit Huber

Birgit Huber is a cultural anthropologist who is writing her Ph.D. thesis at the University of Basel on the “Atlas der Schweizerischen Volkskunde”.

The Brünig-Napf-Reuss line: a cultural boundary through Switzerland

Birgit Huber 18.10.2023 The theory of a cultural divide running through Switzerland first emerged at the time of the “spiritual defence of the nation”, a time when academic research into folklore was being strongly promoted. This cultural boundary, which did not coincide with the language border, was supposed to provide evidence of national identity and cultural diversity.

German or French playing cards? The ‘Brünig-Napf-Reuss line’ as a border for the use of French or German playing cards in Switzerland. Illustration based on a map from the “Atlas der Schweizerischen Volkskunde” collection.