In Interlaken, Big Ben gets a crash course in Alpine stone throwing, a custom performed since 1805 at the historically important "Unspunnen Festival" in the scenic Jungfrau Region. The first Unspunnen Festival was officially ordered to help reconcile with the rebellious people of the Bernese Oberland, who travelled long distances to get to Unspunnen following the invasion of France. After 200 years, the spirit of the Festival is still alive with competitions in Swiss Alpine wrestling, stone-throwing, target shooting, alphorn blowing and singing.
Needless to say, Big Ben's imposing size fits right in with his stone-throwing counterparts.
For more information, click on the Swiss Roots heritage section:
http://history.swissroots.org/185.0.html
