The Tomahawk., 1916-07-20
w WRITING Of some Of the Gu
u ! rious customs and festivals
Wv of Switzerland, in the De-
frOif Tree Press Marie

Wv Of Switzerland, in the De-
troit Free Press, Marie
Widmer says:
'"The origin of the Chalanda MARI,
in the Upper Engadine, which Is
meant to be a welcome greeting to the
approach of spring, dates back to
those early days when this part of the
Grisons was under Roman influence.
Non the first of March the youngsters
4fise with the SUN and ere long the
bigger boys begin to march through
the village, swinging heavy coWbells
with all their might. This is the sig
NAL for their younger playmates to
make themselves ready, and immedi-
lately after breakfast all the boys as
semble in the village square. Each of
them carries bell on his neck and
presently they begin their merry
march from house to house. The tall
lest boy marches in fl ont as the leader !;
The represents the Swiss cowkeeper
and in this capacity he MARBLES many
"a melodious yodel song into the cool
'SmOrning air. His costume consists OF
sblack breaches, white stockings, old
fashioned shoes and formidable
looking cap, not to forget the scrupu-
lousy clean milking pail which he
carries proudly on his broad shoulder.
His companions, all carrying weapons,
follow in a long row, their joyous
songs forming a harmonious accom-
,paniment to the tinkling Of the numer-
,ous bells. Another tall boy marches
:at the end Of the procession. He, in
the role of herdsman, carries long
sick in his hand and an old, big hat
Ln his head. He pretends to be anx-
tously looking around for the COWS
Entrusted to his care.
Wherever this Joyous crowd Of boys
knocks at a door, it is bound to re-
ceive a hearty welcome. Sausages,
pies, cakes, apples, nuts and other
,dainties coveted by the average coun-
try lad are literally presented to them
and q one or twO-franc piece is often
~slipped into the hands of these
Juvenile merrymakers. After they
have thus "visited' every resident of
their commune, the boys ask the girls
to join them, and somewhere in the
house of some good-natured folk who
delight in listening to the outburst of
youthful happiness, the banquet takes
place.
Burning Of the Boogg at Zurich.
Toward the end Of April the passing
of winter and the arrival Of spring is
celebrated at Zurich with very pretty
1 festival known as the Sechselaeuten-
Nix o'clock ringing feast-as the actual
II ,esemony takes place at the striking of
IS D. M, when the bells ring for the
working day to close, which during the
winter only finishes at p. m.
A huge figure, known as the Boogg,
made of wood and covered with white
cotton wool, represents winter. In
due consideration of it's fate to be full
filed in the evening, it is stuffed with
crackers and gunpowder.
In the morning procession OF
more than 1000 schoolchildren, many
of whom are dressed in the pic
.uresuue Swiss national garb, escorts
the triumphal float bearing the Cod
dess of Spring with her attendant
-saassss.idens. Behind follows the Boogg,
surrounded by dancing and jeering
clowns. The procession winds lis
way along the river Limmat to the
head of the placid lake, where Boogg
is left behind on the spacious square
to be raised on poles, in order that
bonfire may be built around him. The
morning festivities close with a juve'
nile ball in the Tonhalle.
In the afternoon the various guilds
all attired in wonderful ancient cos
tunes, have their parade. These
guilds, which in former centuries used
to play such an important role, are
no Inger the strict unions Of the same
& ci$s Of artisans-those unions died
/ut in 1903. The members of the
Yguiids Of today may in reality belong
to a quite different profession, but
they may have chosen to select TIE
.Gymhoi of tie trade once r-acticcd by