Sechseläuten

In the Spring, Zurich comes to life. The historical “Sechseläuten” celebration takes place on the 3rd Monday of April. This time-honored event dates back to the 1500s when the City Council in Switzerland decided that during the summer, work should stop an hour later. So, it was decided that a bell in the Grössmunster would be rung at 6 o'clock to signal the beginning of Summer and its new work hours. However, the citizens then turned Sechseläuten - translated to “the six o’clock ringing of the bells”  - citizens into a celebration as well.

Half a millennium later, each year thousands of people gather around a huge fire pit with a snowman, the Böögg, in the center. When the clock strikes six, a massive bonfire starts, burning the snowman while 350 horsemen gallop around it until all that is left are ashes. It has been said that the longer…