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Achetringele Laupen
On New Year’s Eve, a procession of wild figures winds its way through the alleyways of Laupen. As custom would have it, the young «Bäsemanne» lead the way, equipped with long-handled juniper brooms and «gfürchige» (scary) wooden masks. The «Glöggeler», dressed in white, swing bells and pranksters through the air and the «Blaateremannli» carry air-filled pig’s bladders. At five selected squares in the town, including Läubliplatz and Bärenplatz, the leader recites a rhymed New Year’s verse including a New Year’s wish. After the parade, the masks are removed and the chase with the inflated «Söiblatere» (pig bladders) can begin. The noisy spectacle is difficult to describe – and is best experienced first-hand.
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Evil spirits have been driven out of Laupen in this way for 100 years now. The origins of the «Achetringele» - which means «ringing down» - probably lie in the Germanic winter solstice celebrations. The custom was once used to drive away evil spirits, but today it is a popular and entertaining festival. The contradiction between today’s civilised procession and the wild chase of the past points to the long-standing development of the custom. This year marks the 101st edition of the event. More pictures, information and even a jumper sale can be found on the event website.
If you would like to see the traditional procession for yourself, take a trip to Laupen on 31 December. The procession starts at 8:00 p.m. at Laupen Castle. Important: Due to a construction site in the centre of Laupen, this year’s route deviates slightly from the original route.
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