Translated as "the six o'clock ringing of the bells", the Sechseläuten - “Sächsilüüte” as it is called in local dialect - is Zürich's spring festival. It dates back to the 16th century and relates to the working hours of Zürich’s powerful trade guilds. While in winter the guilds’ workers downed tools at 5pm each day due to the failing light, in summer that was extended to 6pm. To mark the change in the timetable each spring, the Grossmünster bells would ring out at 6pm on the first Monday after the spring equinox.
To me it brings back childhood memories of participating in the Sunday's children parade with other 2000 kids walking through downtown Zurich in traditional costumes.
The main business, however, happens on Monday when most locals get the day off work, and everyone gathers in the streets to watch the procession of 3,500 guild members starting at the lower end of Bahnhofstrasse and ending at the Sechseläutenplatz, where a huge snowman towers over a bonfire waiting to be burnt.
The "Böögg", a snowman effigy that symbolises winter, and whose name could be related to the word bogeyman, is the main feature of the event. It is a longstanding Zürich tradition. Years ago many "Bööggs" were burnt on bonfires throughout the city to banish winter and usher in spring. In the 19th century that tradition was combined with the Sechseläuten and the burning of one giant "Böögg" became the festival’s climax. It takes place at 6pm on the dot every year.
Tradition has it that the "Böögg" can forecast whether it’ll be a hot, dry summer or a washout depending on how long he burns for. After he’s set alight Böögg-watchers time how long it takes for his head - packed with firecrackers - to explode. The quicker it explodes, the better the summer will be. So let’s hope for an early demise for the Böögg tomorrow.
A rendering by Expat Boy many years ago...
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