The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-14
w RITING of some of the Gu
\ ~ ! rious customs and festivals
" W of Switzerland, in the De-
4,n;t Eron Drocc Mario


~ ! rious customs and festivals
" " 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.
On the first of March the youngsters
rise 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-
ately after breakfast all the boys as
semble in the village square. Each Of
them carries q bell on his neck and
presently they begin their merry
march from house to house. The tall
est boy marches in front as the leader;
he represents the Swiss cOwkeeper
and in this capacity he MARBLES many
a melodious yodel song into the cool
morning air. His costume consists OF
black breeches, white stockings, old
fashioned shoes and a 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-
GUS bells. Another tall boy marches
at the end Of the procession. He, In
the role Of herdsman, carries a long
stick in his hand and an old, big hat
on his head. He pretendS to be anX
iously looking around for the COWS
intrusted to his care.
Wherever this joyous crowd of boys
knocks ut 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 then
and one or two-franc piece is Otter
Slipped into the hands Of these
juvenile merrymakers. After the!
have thus visited" every resident O
their commune, the boys ask the girl
to join them, and somewhere in thu
house of some good-natured folk wh'
delight in listening to the outburSt o
youthful happiness, the banquet take
place.
Burning Of the Boogg at Zurich.
Toward the end of April the passin,
of winter and the arrival of spring il
celebrated at Zurich with very prett,
festival known as the Sechselaeuten-
six o'clock ringing feast-as the actua
ceremony takes place at the striking o
6 p. M, when the bells ring for tn
working day to close, which during tn
winter only finishes at Z p. N.
A huge figure, known as the Boog&
made of wood and covered with whit
cotton wool, represents winter.
due consideration of its fate to be fu
filed in the evening, it is stuffed wit
crackers and gunpOwder.
In the morning a procession
more than 1000 schoolchildren, man
of whom are dressed in the pit
turesque Swiss national garb, escort
the triumphal float bearing the Goo
dess of Spring with her attendar
maidens. Behind follows the Boog;
surrounded by dancing and jeerin
clowns. The procession winds il
way along the river Limmat to tn
head of the placid lake, where Boog
is left behind on the spacious squar
to be raised on poles, in order that
bonfire may be built around him. tn
morning festivities close with juv
nile ball in the Tonhalle.
In the afternoon the various guild
all attired in wonderful ancient co
tunes, have their parade. TheS
guilds, which in former centuries use
to play such an important role, al
no longer the strict unions Of the san
class Of artisans-those unions die
out in 1898. The members of Il
guilds of today may in reality belor
to a quite different profession, b'
THEY may have chosen to select tt
symbol Of the trade once practiced /