Boogg Burning

Every spring the swiss gather in town centers around the country to burn to the Boogg, and kick out winter. Burn is acctually not a strong enough word since the ragdoll is actually stuffed with explosives. Like our groundhog day the elapsed time between the lighting of the pyre and the explosion of the Booggs head are said to foretell the length and warmth of the upcoming summer. The shorter the time the better, but they have been known to range from 6 to 45 minutes.

The day starts with a parade of all the guildhalls in traditional dress. They funnel into the square and light the pyre promtly at 1800.

Bellow is the mischievous winter persona, roughly the size of a person, sitting on top of a 30ft tall pyre of straw.



There were wndors selling everything from balloons to swiss fondue.

The pyre is lit, but the flames are slow to eat their way up to the snowman.

It also started bellowing smoke and generalling obscuring vision.


As soon as the pyre was lit, everyone with a camera (so everyone present) shot it into the air to begin catching the action.

Flames licking at his feet....

The outside shell is consumed but nothing has exploded yet.


The first explosions begin.

And the finally, the head explodes in one last tremendous bang.

One of the guildmembers carrying a huge ax.


Just another one of those days in zurich were you come home thinking to yourself that 1st. that would never fly at home and 2nd no matter how much you learn about the swiss they always manage to surprise you....