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.
More
More
A psychic exploding snowman? Welcome to Sechseläuten
This content was published on
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…
Is artificial intelligence an advantage or a disadvantage for workers?
What is your experience with AI at work? Have you already used it? Has it helped you work better? Or has it caused you more stress, more work or caused you to lose your job? Tell us about your experiences!
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
This content was published on
The Böögg, an exploding snowman with a famed but erratic ability to predict the weather, has returned to Sechseläutenplatz in central Zurich.
This content was published on
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…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.