Latest edition : 08 February 2018
Many symbols appear on the costumes of the various characters. The sundial stopped at 11:45 p.m., for example, is a nod to the city's watchmaking past. But also a reminder: on Ash Wednesday, we bury carnival ...
The most original characters are the "Da-Bach-na-Fahrer", dressed in a blue blouse and a ... wooden tub. About 80 years ago, a few revelers decided to descend the village stream in a wooden tub. Why ? Mystery! But it didn't take much to create a new carnival society. Since then, during the carnival, many crews have taken part in this crazy race on makeshift boats.
But carnival also makes you sad, not often, fortunately! In the crowd of smiling "madmen", the mask of the "Brüele" (the weeper) stands out with its wrinkles and tears of sorrow.
All these characters, hidden behind magnificent masks carved in wood, distribute candy to the spectators. But to glean chocolate and other sweets during the parade, you have to learn two ritornelles: “Da Bach na, da Bach na - mit Kummer un mit Sorga; bis am Asch-, bis am Asch, Aschermittwochmorga ”or“ Hori, hori, hori is die katz, und wenn die katz net hori is dann gfallt sie dena maidla nit .... ”. Train yourself !
Fear not, just remember the melody which is simple enough to create an illusion.
After the parade, everyone throngs in front of the town hall to wait for the famous “pretzel blessing”: the town's bakers make 30,000 pretzels distributed to visitors.
As for the famous hairy cat, we do not see it but we can hear it: "music cats" in the streets at dawn with funny musical instruments producing sounds that are sometimes quite discordant!
