The proverbial “Slide into the New Year” was taken literally on 31.12.1974 by some Zurich residents on Grossmünsterplatz. To musical accompaniment and torchlight they slid down a small metal slide, dressed in winter clothes. Comet photographer Hans Witschi was on site and recorded the event.
Hans Witschi: Zürich, Grossmünsterplatz, Slide into the New Year, 31.12.1974 (Com_L23-0965-0001-0003)
Hans Witschi: Zürich, Grossmünsterplatz, Slide into the New Year, 31.12.1974 (Com_L23-0965-0001-0004)
Hans Witschi: Zürich, Grossmünsterplatz, Slide into the New Year, 31.12.1974 (Com_L23-0965-0001-0006)
The New Year’s greeting “Guten Rutsch” or in Switzerland “Rutsch guet übere!” has been widespread in German-speaking countries since around 1900. According to Wikipedia, the saying could be traced back, among other things, to the linguistic connection between “slide” and “travel”. With this in mind, we wish our readers a pleasant and exciting journey through the coming year.