Sechseläuten – the faster böögg’s head explodes, the warmer summer will be!

Sechseläuten is taking place on 25 April 2022.

Sechseläuten (“Sächsilüüte” in the local dialect) means “the 6 o’clock ringing of the bells”. It is a joyful annual spring festival celebrated in Zurich since the 16th century. Back at that time, people worked until 5 p.m. during winters because of not enough daylight. However, one day the City Council announced that people could work until 6 p.m. during the spring and summer months.

This Spring Festival includes Guild’s Parade from Bahnhofstrasse to Sechseläutenplatz, followed by the burning of the snowman (Böögg) at the Sechseläutenplatz (the square in front of the Opera House). Another highlight of the holiday is Children’s Parade, which usually occurs the day before (on Sunday). As the young generation honourably wears historical costumes and celebrates spring with childish joy and happiness.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Children’s Parade takes place on April 24th (Sunday) at 2:30 pm in the Zurich downtown.
• The Sechseläuten Guild’s Parade is taking place on April 25th (Monday), starts at 3 p.m. and runs from Bahnhofstrasse to Sechseläutenplatz (it’s a square in front of the Opera House).
• Burning of the Böögg starts at 6 p.m. at the Sechseläutenplatz. Tradition says that the faster the Böögg’s head explodes, the finer the summer will be.
• The festival is always very crowded, therefore, come early in order to get a nice view of the Parade and the Böögg.
• Trams run with the special schedule during the event, so don’t forget to check it out.
• You can purchase the tickets for the seating places a few days before the festival at the main train station, Bellueve and Paradeplatz. Prices 10 CHF and 25 CHF.
• The map with the parade route and seating places you may find in the photos below.

The parade demonstrates the traditions and costumes of the local guilds. More than 3500 guilds members, 350 riders, 50 horse-drawn carriages and 30 marching bands participate in the procession. The parade route runs from Bahnhofstrasse to Sechseläutenplatz, where the pedestal for the bonfire with the Böögg is waiting.

The Böögg is another vital part of the festival. The Böögg – it’s a snowman, which symbolises winter. The tradition is to burn the snowman down and, in this way, send the winter away. The head of the Böögg is packed with firecrackers, so when the fire reaches his head, it explodes with an impressive explosion.

You may also want to check the video from the previos Sechseläuten.

it is a nice tradition of gathering together, greeting the spring season and having fun while guessing of how fast the böögg’s head explodes. the believe is that the faster it explodes the warmer summer will be.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

BE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY! :)