Word: unterwalden
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Ever since disgruntled citizens of Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden swore their nation's founding oath of confederation in 1291, Switzerland has reveled in remaining an Alpine stronghold, happily cut off from political and economic turmoil in the world's lower realms. Fear of weakening the country's vaunted neutrality, independence and grass-roots democracy has kept Switzerland out of nato, the European Union and almost every other political alliance dreamed up by the world's multilateralists. That could change this weekend, when voters decide whether the country should finally join an organization it has hosted for 55 years: the United...
Thus last week the free Swiss acted out the ceremony that gave them their freedom. Six hundred and fifty years before, representatives of the three "forest cantons" of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden had gathered in the same glade to light a fire symbolizing their confederation against the house of Habsburg. To celebrate their independence day the Swiss every year build huge leaping bonfires instead of shooting off fireworks...
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