The traditional Zurich weather forecaster, an exploding stuffed snowman perched atop a blazing pyre, failed to set the traditional holiday crowds alight on Monday. The Böögg took a monotonous 20 minutes and 31 seconds for its head to explode – thus signaling a drab Swiss summer.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
The Sechseläuten (or ‘Six Bells’) spring parade each year signals the burning of the Böögg – an effigy representing the long winter months recently endured. Legend has it that the quicker the Böögg’s explosives-packed head takes to go off with a bang, the warmer and sunnier the summer will be.
Under drizzling grey skies on Monday, the process took a tediously long time. In fact, on only four occasions in the last decade has the Böögg taken longer to lose its head.
Last year’s result was altogether more satisfactory, both in terms of the speed at which the snowman exploded and the accuracy of its forecast. Last summer saw lots of sunshine and hot temperatures, just as the Böögg said it would, when its head detonated in under ten minutes.
This year, Zurich’s city trade guilds, resplendent as ever in traditional costumes and riding horses, were joined by guests from Basel and government minister Guy Parmelin and Ignazio Cassis.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
This content was published on
Swiss wheelchair racer Catherine Debrunner won the 5,000 metres to bring home Switzerland’s first gold medal at the Paralympics in Paris.
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.
Read more
More
Women take a step forward at the Sechseläuten
This content was published on
The Fraumünster Association (Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster) has been fighting for 22 years to be able to process alongside the men. But the battle is not over yet. Monday’s festival takes the form of a colourful parade through the city to the Sechseläuten square. It is here that the Böögg – a snowman figure representing winter whose…
Is Zurich’s traditional festival too stressful for horses?
This content was published on
Could being made to ride through crowds and around a bonfire during Zurich's spring festival, Sechseläuten, constitute animal cruelty?
This content was published on
The ‘Böögg’, as he’s called, is placed on top of a giant bonfire in Zurich, while a large crowd waits for the moment his head explodes. This year it took 43 minutes and 34 seconds – a record-breaking and resolutely terrible result for the summer. The tradition, which takes place annually in April, serves to drive…
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.