Onion market draws thousands

Bern's Onion Market still pulls in the crowds Keystone

Thousands of visitors descended on the Swiss capital, Bern, on Monday to attend the city's famous "Onion Market".

The historic event, which, according to local legend, dates from 1405, is held annually on the fourth Monday of November and kicks off at dawn.

This year around 54 tons of onions made it to market, many of them destined to end up in soups and garlands. There were also, of course, the ubiquitous onion tarts, whose pungent aroma can be savoured throughout the city centre.

However fans of the “Onion Market” will be disappointed to hear that its appeal appears to be on the wane. Police in Bern reported that fewer visitors from abroad and other parts of Switzerland had made the trip this year.

Hard times for onions

Even the simple, and much-derided, onion seems to be going through hard times. This year’s figure of 54 tons is down from last year’s 60 tons and 1999’s 70 tons.

Its position has been undermined by the diversification of the market, which nowadays tends to lean more towards arts and crafts.

A further source of debate continues to be the actual origin of the “Onion Market”. Historian Rudolf Ramseyer believes the popular choice of 1405 is mistaken by more than 400 years.

He believes a more likely starting point is around 1850, when peasants from Mont Vully in neighbouring canton Fribourg used to come to Bern to sell their produce on St Martin’s Day.

Supporters of the later starting date also point to the fact that no mention of Bern’s “Onion Market” appears in local accounts until the 1860s.

swissinfo with agencies