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Travels in Switzerland

Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr. participates in Sechselauten Parade in Zurich (Apr 3, 2012)

Photo by Pete Shephard courtesy of George Muller-Bodmer

Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (left) with George Muller-Bodmer at the Sechselauten Parade in Zurich

 

Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr. participated in Sechselauten Parade in Zurich with the Saffron Guild 
This Zurich spring tradition took its unusual name from the fourteenth century custom of ringing a Grossmünster bell at six o'clock in the evening to proclaim the end of the summer semester working day. The first ringing of the bell provided a good opportunity for a small springtime celebration.
On the 3rd Monday in April, the members of all 25 guilds parade through the city. As seen in the photograph, they wear historical costumes. Until the end of the 18th century the guilds were associations of craftsmen who participated in governing the city. Since then they have held social functions, Sechselauten being the most colorful. 

Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr. participated in Sechselauten Parade in Zurich with the Saffron Guild. This Zurich spring tradition took its unusual name from the fourteenth century custom of ringing a Grossmünster bell at six o'clock in the evening to proclaim the end of the summer semester working day. The first ringing of the bell provided a good opportunity for a small springtime celebration. On the 3rd Monday in April, the members of all 25 guilds parade through the city. As seen in the photograph, they wear historical costumes. Until the end of the 18th century the guilds were associations of craftsmen who participated in governing the city. Since then they have held social functions, Sechselauten being the most colorful.