Sächsilüütetag/ Zürich's spring festival
- Klara
- Apr 15, 2024
- 3 min read
"Sächsilüüte" is a traditional spring holiday celebrated in Zurich, typically on the third Monday of April. The name "Sächsilüüte" is Swiss German and roughly translates to "six o'clock bells" in English. The highlight of the event is the burning of the "Böögg" (a snowman-like figure) on a top a of an fire.
The tradition dates back to the 16th century when Zurich was Catholic. The winter was marked by Carnival festivities, and the burning of the Böögg symbolized the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Over time, it evolved into a civic celebration.
The Böögg is filled with explosives and fireworks. As it burns, the time it takes for its head to explode symbolizes the weather to come: a quick explosion indicates a warm, sunny summer, while a slow explosion predicts a cold, rainy one.
Sächsilüüte is celebrated with various events, including parades, folk music, and traditional Swiss food and drinks. It's a significant cultural event in Zurich, drawing locals and tourists alike to welcome the arrival of spring.
Picture from 1902
PARADE
The preparation starts erly in the morning already, but the real parade starts at around 3pm from and the whole map you can find here: https://www.sechselaeuten.ch/de/das-fest/saechsiluete-2024/montag--15042024
On their website is also written that the whole parade includes roughly 3500 members of guilds in their colorful costumes, traditional attire, and uniforms, more than 350 riders, around 50 carriages pulled exclusively by horses, and about 30 musical bands parade on Monday through Bahnhofstrasse and Limmatquai to Sechseläutenplatz, where the burning of the Böögg takes place. Schools, youth organizations, and scouting groups often join the parade, with children and teenagers marching or performing.
Those are some picture from the parade in 2022
BÖÖGG
The Böögg, a central figure in the Sächsilüüte celebration in Zurich, Switzerland, has a fascinating history rooted in both pagan and Christian traditions.
The tradition of burning effigies to mark the end of winter and welcome spring has roots in ancient pagan rituals. These rituals often involved burning straw figures or effigies as part of fertility rites or to ward off evil spirits. With the spread of Christianity, many pagan rituals were adapted or integrated into Christian festivals. In Zurich, the burning of an effigy evolved into the Sächsilüüte celebration, which became associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
The Böögg itself is a relatively recent addition to the tradition, dating back to the early 20th century. It takes the form of a large snowman-like figure made of wood, cloth, and paper. The design of the Böögg varies from year to year, with each iteration often reflecting current events, popular culture, or political themes. It is hollow and filled with fireworks and explosives. Its head is typically packed with a large amount of pyrotechnic material, designed to create a dramatic explosion when ignited.
The burning of the Böögg symbolizes the expulsion of winter and the arrival of spring. The speed at which the Böögg's head explodes is believed to predict the weather for the coming summer. A quick explosion is said to herald a warm and sunny summer, while a slow explosion suggests a colder and rainy one. Today, creating the Böögg is a collaborative effort involving artisans, craftsmen, and volunteers. It is typically constructed in the weeks leading up to the Sächsilüüte celebration, with meticulous attention to detail given to its design and construction.
Fastest Böögg Explosion: 1956 with last than 4min
Slowest Böögg Explosion: 2023 with 57min
We all hope for the best weather this year and if your planning to see the parade, enjoy it as much as possible. Deffenetly something to see!
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