At some point we will learn how to combine all of this in the right order. The picture go with the following post.
Hope all is wonderful in your worlds.
Linda and Gary
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The Snowman Loses His Head
The Snowman Loses His Head
It took only 10 minutes and 28 seconds from the time they lit the bonfire for his head to explode. According to the locals, that is a fast time and foretells and early and glorious summer.
In Zurich, the snow man festival is their May day and the snowman atop the bonfire their May pole. The day of the bonfire is so special that businesses close at noon. It is actually a two day festival with the first centered around a childrens’ parade and the second the parade of the historic trade societies. Each society used to represent a specific trade, such as bakers, blacksmiths, beer brewers, dairy farmers, wine makers, hatters, milliners, etc. Today the societies retain their historic roots but have become more social societies. Each has its specific costume—most of which are quite beautiful. Gary is a hat buff and he now has a whole group on his wish list.
(image placeholder)
(image placeholder)
The parade from the center of town, complete with horse groups, bands, wagons and all the members of each group takes about three hours and they finish and assemble around the snow man. As they arrive, each group has an assigned place around the bonfire marked by its banner. Of course they all bring along ample supplies of local beer and wine—none, unfortunately offered to us spectators. Consequently, those at the front of the parade, having arrived first are pretty jolly by the time the bonfire begins.
At precisely 6 pm—these Swiss are deadly serious about minutes and seconds—the bonfire is lit and each group has their horsemen galloping around the fire at full speed.. This pyre has a couple of explosive charges that go off as the fire escalates and the snow man is a virtual arsenal of explosives. Charges are blowing off in all directions as the body disintegrates. These are quite impressive explosions with the finale being the head which is loaded with the largest charge of all. When it goes you feel the blast from a block away. Both Linda and I were amazed that the horses didn’t panic as even the smaller blast are full canon charges.
Naturally the weather on that day was the best of the season. It rained on the kid’s parade the day before (which had absolutely no impact on the large crowd). But the sun was so bright and hot on this day that the biggest cheer came from the spectators when the blimp blocked the sun. It was like the Wave at a football game as the blimp’s shadow passed down the throng around the pyre. People are packed so close and so deep, you dare not leave your spot nor could you during the last 45 minutes.
Well, we now know that the Swiss are not always as reserved as they would like to appear. The town rocked for hours after the snow man lost it head. Linda had to catch the train to the airport for a 10 pm flight and said that sobriety wasn’t in fashion.
If you don’t hike, you can’t be Swiss! The trais around Zurich are many and the trips gorgeous even if the buds come out a bit later than we are used to. Nordic poles in hand (a nice help for those of us qualifying for senior discounts) we’ve been off to see a few of the sites.
(image placeholder)
(image placeholder)
Admittedly, it is a tough life. But sacrifice is a virtue.
We are off to Madrid on the 3rd for a five days, followed by 9 days in Sicily. We are back in the States for some time in June. Grandson Jason and his buddy, Kevin come for two weeks in July. We meet our buds Bill and Ginny in Athens for a couple of days in late August and then they will come along to Zurich for a few days. We are planning to see a lot of this beautiful country and its always the same story—too much to see and too little time.
Back to the German lessons
Auf Weidersehen!
It took only 10 minutes and 28 seconds from the time they lit the bonfire for his head to explode. According to the locals, that is a fast time and foretells and early and glorious summer.
In Zurich, the snow man festival is their May day and the snowman atop the bonfire their May pole. The day of the bonfire is so special that businesses close at noon. It is actually a two day festival with the first centered around a childrens’ parade and the second the parade of the historic trade societies. Each society used to represent a specific trade, such as bakers, blacksmiths, beer brewers, dairy farmers, wine makers, hatters, milliners, etc. Today the societies retain their historic roots but have become more social societies. Each has its specific costume—most of which are quite beautiful. Gary is a hat buff and he now has a whole group on his wish list.
(image placeholder)
(image placeholder)
The parade from the center of town, complete with horse groups, bands, wagons and all the members of each group takes about three hours and they finish and assemble around the snow man. As they arrive, each group has an assigned place around the bonfire marked by its banner. Of course they all bring along ample supplies of local beer and wine—none, unfortunately offered to us spectators. Consequently, those at the front of the parade, having arrived first are pretty jolly by the time the bonfire begins.
At precisely 6 pm—these Swiss are deadly serious about minutes and seconds—the bonfire is lit and each group has their horsemen galloping around the fire at full speed.. This pyre has a couple of explosive charges that go off as the fire escalates and the snow man is a virtual arsenal of explosives. Charges are blowing off in all directions as the body disintegrates. These are quite impressive explosions with the finale being the head which is loaded with the largest charge of all. When it goes you feel the blast from a block away. Both Linda and I were amazed that the horses didn’t panic as even the smaller blast are full canon charges.
Naturally the weather on that day was the best of the season. It rained on the kid’s parade the day before (which had absolutely no impact on the large crowd). But the sun was so bright and hot on this day that the biggest cheer came from the spectators when the blimp blocked the sun. It was like the Wave at a football game as the blimp’s shadow passed down the throng around the pyre. People are packed so close and so deep, you dare not leave your spot nor could you during the last 45 minutes.
Well, we now know that the Swiss are not always as reserved as they would like to appear. The town rocked for hours after the snow man lost it head. Linda had to catch the train to the airport for a 10 pm flight and said that sobriety wasn’t in fashion.
If you don’t hike, you can’t be Swiss! The trais around Zurich are many and the trips gorgeous even if the buds come out a bit later than we are used to. Nordic poles in hand (a nice help for those of us qualifying for senior discounts) we’ve been off to see a few of the sites.
(image placeholder)
(image placeholder)
Admittedly, it is a tough life. But sacrifice is a virtue.
We are off to Madrid on the 3rd for a five days, followed by 9 days in Sicily. We are back in the States for some time in June. Grandson Jason and his buddy, Kevin come for two weeks in July. We meet our buds Bill and Ginny in Athens for a couple of days in late August and then they will come along to Zurich for a few days. We are planning to see a lot of this beautiful country and its always the same story—too much to see and too little time.
Back to the German lessons
Auf Weidersehen!
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