Since 1978, the city has also held a road running event that passes by all of the oldest monuments in Geneva. People can register to run anything from 3 to 10 miles. This is considered one of the most fun running events of the year in the city! A lot of people come out to cheer on the runners and hand out water bottles.
In 1602, the city of Geneva was attacked by a group of people, the Savoyards, who lived in neighboring France. Catholic Savoy attempted to conquer the Protestant Geneva. On the night of December 11th, the Savoyards began to scale the protective wall around the city of Geneva. The traditions of l'Escalade come from a story of a woman who protected the wall during the fight. The legend is that one woman, a mother of fourteen children, was cooking vegetable soup at home on the night of December 11th. In order to defend against the Savoyards, she poured her cauldron of soup over the heads of the invaders, preventing them from climbing the wall. Her actions helped motivate the citizens to defend the city. Eventually, the citizens defeated the invading Savoyards, preventing them from climbing the defensive wall. Each year, the town celebrates l'Escalade to commemorate the victory and the strength of the city.
Although Switzerland has 26 cantons, Geneva is the only one to celebrate l'Escalade. Since the events of the original battle occurred in Geneva, other cantons do not celebrate this tradition. One thing that I find to be very interesting about Switzerland is that each canton has a certain character, and many of its traditions follow that character.
