SHARING THE CHEESE

In the picturesque village of Iseltwald in Switzerland, the people celebrate the sharing of the Cheese on the first Saturday of September.

During spring and summer the farmers lead the cows up the melting Alp plains, to feed on the lush green grass watered by the melting snows. The towering mountains are snow-covered until the warm sun melts the snow which waters the Alp pastures.

But as the cold winter approaches the cattle are led down to the villages to prevent then from freezing on the Alps, below the mountain peaks.

The cows provide the most delicious, creamy milk, which the herdsmen squeeze from the cows’ udders. They pour the milk into large vats which they churn with huge, wooden paddles. The people work until the creamy, curdly milk turns into firm yellow cheese. Then the worker moulds the cheese into huge rounds, and stores them until they are ripe for eating. They are stacked on large wooden shelves in the herdsman’s hut.

The herdsmen live in the little log huts dotted around the Alps , and churn their cheese until it is perfect. However, in early Autumn, ( Or Fall ) when the trees are ablaze with yellow, red, orange and brown leaves, the herdsmen walk down from the mountains with their small wooden carts loaded with cheese.

We walked down the slope into the village of Iseltwald, and there the community gathered in the village-square with its huge furnace in the centre. The log fire glowed as a villager held a huge wheel of cheese over the fire. As it melted a lady took a huge Swiss bun and held it so that the rich melted cheese dripped on to the bun. Each person shared in this delightful ritual. The Mayor invited us to hold our bun over the fire, and enjoy the cheese that dripped on to our bread. Mmmmm! It was delicious.

Not everyone could walk to the mountains and care for the cows. The mother stayed at home to care for the children. So every family allowed their cows to be taken by a herdsman, who cared for them on the Alp. So when the cheese matured, it really belonged to the whole village.

They celebrated together, making sure that no-one was left out, as they shared

their cheese. The village band played flutes, violins and Alp horns ( something like a didjeridoo ). The people sang and danced with happiness and joy.

This is how the early Christians lived. They shared all they had with each other. No-one was left out , as they went from house to house sharing their possessions and food. And Paul wrote that he knew that people cared for him because they always provided enough food and money for him as he preached in various towns.

Do you know someone with whom you could share clothes, food, books, or toys.? The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver. Ask God to tell you whom you could help by sharing with them.

Read how the early Christians shared with the needy. You will find the verses in Acts 2: 44,45.

Read this story to your children or grandchildren.

Let Gwenda know how they respond hgsteward@cobweb.com.au