Barchinas

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Barchinas [bɐrˈtɕiːnɐs] ( Rhaeto-Romanic Vallader for "Schiffchen" [plural], to barcha "Schiff") is a tradition related to the turn of the year in the Lower Engadine capital of Scuol , Canton of Graubünden .

Custom

On New Year's Eve , the children of the village have boats made of pine bark and nutshells drive into the fountain of the old Scuoler quarters. A candle burns on each boat or a burning wick is attached in liquid wax. The custom symbolizes the arder oura l'on vegl, the «burning out (that is, saying goodbye) to the old year».

The custom, the age of which can no longer be determined, is described for the first time in connection with the data collection for the Atlas of Swiss Folklore ; the corresponding survey dates from 1936.

The name of the custom, barchinas, seems to be more recent. In the Dicziunari Rumantsch Grischun , barcha (Volume II, p. 167; article written around 1950) lacks any reference to a custom; the entire material of the description of customs is classified under New Year's Eve .

The custom has recently been adopted in other Lower Engadine locations, for example in Sent .

Literature and other sources

  • Men Gaudenz: Nos cumün da Scuol in temps passats. Stamparia engiadinaisa, Samedan / Scuol 1982, p. 179 (where Christmas is incorrectly stated as the time).
  • Atlas of Swiss Folklore . Original recordings in localities in Graubünden, obtained from Dr. Gian Caduff around 1936. In the possession of the Dicziunari Rumantsch Grischun . - Question 83 "What customs take place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve besides those already mentioned?" for Scuol / Schuls.
  • Barchinas , on the Mia Regiun website . Engiadina bassa.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ «On New Year's Eve after sleeping, the children let their light boats go around the village well. The boats are carved from pine bark and each carries a burning Christmas candle ». ASV admission protocol for schools, question 83.
  2. ↑ Not yet published; Information from the editorial team on April 26, 2016.
  3. ↑ La Quotidiana 2010, No. 254, p. 7.