Bonfire
Höhenfeuer are several meters high piled, burning wood cones, which are lit on hills or peaks and are visible from afar. They have a long tradition in Switzerland , they are usually lit on the national holiday , hence the name Augustfire . There are different theories about their origin and function.
- One says that they are derived from the Hochwacht fires and have a reminder function, and even a warning character.
- On the Swiss federal holiday , the federal celebration on August 1st, bonfires are also lit on the mountain peaks and hills and these are intended to remind of the burning castles after the liberation from bondage.
- Another theory derives the fires from the midsummer or midwinter tradition , whereby these fires should serve to ward off evil spirits.
The term “Höhenfeuer” also appears in Central Germany. In the Vogtland and Eastern Upper Franconia region, for example, the fires that were lit on the evening of April 30th are also known as “mountain fires”. The difference to the Swiss variant is that these fires are only lit to a limited extent on hills or mountain peaks. Rather, every village or community has its own fire, mostly on larger open spaces or sports fields. Other names for these fires on Walpurgis Night would be: witch fire or broom burning.
The custom of the Sacred Heart Fires has existed in Tyrol since the 18th century .
Web link
- August 1st (national holiday) , article on the private website schweizinfo.ch