nPostednon June 23, 2015
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nInsteadnof having states, like the U.S. and Mexico, or provinces like Canadanor Spain, Switzerland has cantons. It has 26, in fact!
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| Jura Mountains |
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nThenmost recent canton is Jura. It became a canton on this date in 1979.nAnd it’s not as if Switzerland suddenly gained more land; Jura usednto be a part of the canton of Bern.
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nSwitzerlandnis a fairly small nation – smaller than the rather small state ofnWest Virginia, in the U.S. – but it is quite diverse. It has fournofficial languages – French, German, Italian, and Romansh. Andnwhen, in the early 1800s, the Jura region became a part of the cantonnof Bern, some people were unhappy about it. The Jura wasnFrench-speaking and by and large practiced Catholicism, and thenmajority of people in Bern spoke German and practiced ProtestantnChristianity.
After World War II, a separatist movement began.nMany young people in Jura agitated to be allowed to secede from Bern.nThere was even (regrettably) some violence over the issue. Finally,nin 1978, there was a vote of the Swiss people, and the people chosento split.
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nSomenof the people in the southern part of what has been traditionallynconsidered Jura – although French-speakers – chose to stay in thencanton Bern. This area is called Bernese Jura.
So now therenare two meanings of the name “Jura”: the canton Jura, and thentraditional region of Jura, which includes the canton Jura plusnBernese Jura.
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nThenJura Arc is the heart of Switzerland’s watchmaking industry.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Luxembourg’s National Day n
Luxembourg’s National Day n
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nSabantuyn(AKA the Festival of the Plow)
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nPinknFlamingo Day
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nAnniversarynof Antarctica being set aside for science
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nPlannahead:
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Check out my Pinterest boards for:
Check out my Pinterest boards for:
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nJunen holidays
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nJunen birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in June
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJulyn holidays
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nJulyn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in July
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