Zurich’s male-dominated trade guilds made a historic concession to women by allowing a small number to take part in the traditional Sechseläuten spring event.
Until this year, women have been excluded from the centuries-old guilds and have played only a marginal role at Sechseläuten (Six Bells) – a ceremony to mark the end of winter.
The Zunft zur Meisen daughters will also be allowed to participate at some other guild events – a privilege usually reserved for the sons of members.
“This is just a test run,” the Zunft zur Meisen guild master Gustav von Schulthess. “We will allow young women into our guild rooms and see how they integrate into guild life.”
The guild will only vote on allowing full women membership in two to five years, according to Swiss public broadcaster SRF.
Other guilds have debated letting women into the male bastions with a negative response. “The time is not yet ripe,” says the Höngg guild.
During the 2023 Sechseläuten, the Böögg snowman effigy took 57 minutes for the flames to reach the fireworks stuffed into its head.
According to folklore, the quicker it takes for the Böögg to explode, the warmer and drier the summer will be. This year saw the longest wait ever for the pyrotechnics, indicating a poor summer – but the Böögg is often wrong.
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SechseläutenExternal link has various roots. On the one hand it’s based on fire customs linked to the spring equinox, during which boys burnt self-made straw effigies around the city. On the other, members of guilds used to regulate working hours by ringing bells. In winter, craftsmen and traders would work until 5pm and in summer…
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Traditionalists have rejected a campaign to allow women back into the guilds and play a full part in the famous Sechseläuten festival. But new research lends more ammunition to the women’s cause. Zurich’s guilds used to play a central role in the city’s economic and political fortunes until power was stripped away in the 19th…
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