Aeschli
Boys have been gathering for about 500 years on Ash Wednesday in Elgg in the Canton of Zurich to celebrate 'Aeschli' together with the village people.
Parades, speeches and gathering
Elgg's annual celebration starts on 1 January. At 2 p.m., a canon shot is fired: onlookers and cadre candidates gather in front of the large gate (Obertor) and elect the captain of the year. Participants of the celebration are boys from the first year of kindergarten.
Dressed in soldiers' uniforms and according to their different functions, they perform a parade, fire cannons, make speeches and enjoy the relaxed gathering on Ash Wednesday when the festivities start at 4 a.m. with the first cannon shot, drummers, pipes and timpani. As of 7 a.m., the company is led through the village by the captain, who will give a speech after lunch from the window of his headquarters when the adults will also join the party.
Dressed in soldiers' uniforms and according to their different functions, they perform a parade, fire cannons, make speeches and enjoy the relaxed gathering on Ash Wednesday when the festivities start at 4 a.m. with the first cannon shot, drummers, pipes and timpani. As of 7 a.m., the company is led through the village by the captain, who will give a speech after lunch from the window of his headquarters when the adults will also join the party.
All events at a glance
Please check out upcoming activities in the calendar of events.