“The name of the society doesn’t really suit French. We would rather use the term circle. But we wanted to keep the Swiss word, which shows how associative we are,” acknowledges Henri Morรฉna, communication manager of the Sociรฉtรฉ Suisse de Nice. The association, which was called the Swiss Aid Society when it was created, has existed since 1874. It originally had a philanthropic role: it was necessary to help compatriots who settled in the south of France and were in need. Many Swiss settled in France from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. At that time, this country did not yet have the image of a wealthy nation as it does today: it was mainly about exporting expertise. This explains why Swiss immigrants primarily worked in the hotel industry on the French Riviera. “We must put an end to a prejudice,” comments Henri Morรฉna. “The Swiss here are not all retirees who came to enjoy the region. Most are working individuals.”
It is the descendants of these immigrants who created what is called the “Fifth Switzerland”: the Swiss who live abroad. It represents 650,000 Swiss living in France, or almost 10% of the population remaining in Switzerland. Half of these Swiss abroad have dual nationality. For Henri Morรฉna, this perfectly illustrates the Swiss mentality: being keen to integrate well into the population while remaining very attached to one’s roots. “On the Swiss identity card, not only the name of the canton is written but also that of the village you are originally from,” he adds. Another Swiss characteristic? Tolerance: “In Switzerland, there are three languages and two religions. This prevents any excessive patriotism.”
### Festivities of Saint Martin and Upcoming Congress
The national holiday of Saint Martin, which takes place on August 1st, is fast approaching. While this day is a public holiday in Switzerland, it is not in France, so adjustments must be made. This year, the festivities will take place on Sunday, July 27th, in Saint-Martin-Vรฉsubie. “The village is in altitude. It reminds us a bit of Switzerland. Moreover, we have a good relationship with the municipality,” Henri Morรฉna rejoices.
But it is mainly the autumn event that demands the attention of the Sociรฉtรฉ Suisse de Nice. The conference will allow many speakers to discuss the history of the Swiss presence on the Cรดte-d’Azur, religion, and other themes. The aim is to show “that we must go beyond the postcard image, without denying Switzerland’s postcard image.” This event is intended for the Swiss of the Cรดte-d’Azur, but not only them. “All the residents of Nice are invited,” assures Henri Morรฉna. Swiss artists will exhibit their works. “Yves Klein and Ben Vautier are artists originating from Switzerland,” he recalls. “They are also excellent ambassadors of our country.” Just like Roger Federer in sports: “He was often criticized for not expressing his joy enough. At least it shows he doesn’t have a big head!”
For more information:
[www.suissenice.com](http://www.suissenice.com)