Andrew Nash
Vienna Transport Strategies

Zürich Sechseläuten and the Böögg

The snowman in the photo with me on my home page is the Böögg. Every year on the 3rd Monday in April (unless the 3rd Monday is the day after Easter, then it's the 4th Monday in April) Zürich's guilds (Zünfte) parade through the city in mideval costumes to the Sechseläuten-platz where a huge bonfire (about 10-meters high) with a papier-mâché Böögg on top. At 6 pm they light the bonfire.

Oh, I forgot, the Böögg is stuffed with explosives (who says Zürich is boring?). The amount of time it takes until the Böögg's head explodes is supposed to indicate how good the summer will be ... fast = good ... slow = bad.

The story behind the photo

Zürich's public transport operator (VBZ) has a highly creative advertising program. Many of their advertisements are humorous. The VBZ always has a humorous advertisment for Sechseläuten. In 2004, the advertisement (see the full photo) read: "We bring everyone quickly and efficiently to Sechseläuten. And everyone except one home." ... get it? They won't bring the Böögg home because he is exploded.

My wife took the photo and we cropped it so it looks like I am riding with the Böögg in a streetcar.

Sechseläuten

Sechseläuten means "six o'clock bells" and that's why the bonfire is lit at 6 pm.

Zunft means guild (Zünfte is plural). The guilds were started in the 15th century and took control of Zürich's government. They are exactly what we learned guilds are in history class: groups of professionals such as bakers, fisherman, leather workers, etc. In the Sechseläuten parade the Zünfte march through the city in traditional costumes. Often they have floats related to their profession (the fisherman carry fresh fish and have been known to throw them into the crowd - especially at the end of the parade).

The Zünfte play a continuing role in the city, mostly serving as a way of strengthening social and business relationships as well as doing charity work. They meet monthly, often in beautiful old Zunfthauser (Zunft houses) which are also public restaurants (most have great food and atmosphere, highly recommended if you visit).

Most of the Zünfte march along with brass bands and the city is filled with march music over the weekend before and the night following the bonfire. A former colleague of mine from the ETH is the leader of one of these bands, click on the start button below to hear their version of the Sechseläuten march.

In addition to the 'profession' Zünfte, many of Zürich's neighborhoods have Zünfte. These were formed later as Zürich grew.

Only men can be members of the Zünfte and are allowed to march in the parade (although children of both sexes are allowed). One of the Zürich public transport operator's Sechseläuten advertisements said "Attention Zürich Guilds! Women can drive OUR wagons!" ... and pictured four of the VBZ's tram drivers.

In a nod to modern times and globalization, a Children's Sechseläuten is held on the Sunday before Sechseläuten. Children - of all nationalities - parade through the streets. The original 'Zunfters' must be rolling in their graves as the Japanese Judo Club marches in traditional (Judo) clothes.

Sechseläuten is really a great experience, as the local newspaper headlined one year "Sechseläuten, always the same, always beautiful" ... truer words were never spoken.

More on Zünfte and Sechseläuten: Zurich Zünfte (German)

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