Langenthal Carnival
The Langenthal Carnival is celebrated in Langenthal .
history
The first entries about the Langenthal Carnival are known from 1864.
In 1864, when the Oberaargauer Tagblatt was re-established, the first advertisements with invitations from innkeepers to Carnival events became known. In addition, curious accident reports were to be read, which suggested activities related to the carnival. In 1867 a police decree testified that the carnival hustle and bustle was too colorful for the authorities. In 1887 the carnival events in Langenthal were first reported in the jester supplement. The program at that time was limited to the main attraction, the Tschämelen by bear gangs and to dance events on Hirsmontag. In 1901 the first article about the course of the Carnival Sunday appeared, from 1907 the Carnival received more attention in the Langenthaler Tageblatt. In 1908 Tschämelen was banned.
The first carnival newspaper, “Die Mücke”, appeared in 1913, followed by more, see section Carnival newspaper . The First World War began in 1914 . In 1920 dance events followed again in inns. From 1921 onwards, masked balls were held on Sunday and the children's masked ball on Hirsmontag. In 1923 the first carnival society, the Quodlibet, was founded. Before the innkeepers had agreed most of the time together, now there was some structure in the carnival. The pageant on Sunday and the children's parade on Monday emerged. Professional architects and painters were used to decorate the ballrooms. In 1932, due to the economic crisis, the carnival events were less frequented. Therefore, around 20 club representatives founded the sulfur guild in 1937, which established the carnival parade as a major event with 200 masks and 10 floats. From 1939 the sulfur guild also motivated outsiders to take part in the parade. From 1940 the Second World War made the customs disappear. In 1946 the head of the sulfur guild, Fritz Meister, reactivated the carnival in the form of a merged carnival parade on Sunday with the children. The carnival mood was still clouded. In 1953 the Langenthaler Fasnachtsgesellschaft was founded, which managed to bring enthusiasm and new ideas back to the carnival. In the beginning it concentrated on the move, in 1957 the opening ceremony was arranged. In 1956 there was a defamation process that was won by a councilor. More escapades followed, such as E.g. the dispatch of 250 letters of apology to a mistakenly blackened person or a super-provisional injunction which required the deletion of a text with a felt-tip pen for 3500 issues.
In 1971 she expanded the patronage evening, which originally consisted of only 2 schnitzel bank groups. The badge was introduced in 1974 . At the request of the cliques, the clique charivari was carried out for the first time in 1980, with the aim that the cliques could also hear each other once. The patronage evening and the Charivari became bigger, so that in 1993 the Dreilinden tennis center had to be rented. The number of viewers has been falling since around 2000 and only 3 out of 5 bars are still involved. In return, the newly introduced events such as the Guggenspektakel found favor with the younger audience.
Customs
Tschämelen
Hopping step to a special rhythm in the group. Tschämelen in groups was gradually restricted in 1902 and completely banned in 1908. In many parts, Tschämelen is now a custom for the children who go to sing in disguise on Carnival Monday and receive a chunk of thanks or something sweet.
Bear gangs
The bear gangs were groups that devoted themselves to Tschämelen. The bear gangs asked for gifts, not only with singing, but also with performances, verses and allotria . The bear gang is an indispensable part of the Langenthal Carnival today. It consists of the bear, the bear guide, the donkey doctor, the besenbethen and a group of whistles and a drum. It is not known to this day whether this custom developed from the winter expellers.
Since 1985 the Bärenbande has been active again as part of the Langenthaler Fasnachtsgesellschaft at the carnival, since 1992 again as an independent group.
Eat fish
Before 1798 under the regime of "Gracious gentlemen" from Berne found at Mumenthaler every 3 years instead of a big pond fishing with the aim that the bailiff could make his rented Weiher also hard cash. 3 weeks before and after Shrovetide, the pond was slowly emptied and the fish skimmed off. Over time, this public event turned into popular amusement and on Sundays there was an extensive celebration with wine and dancing. This iniquity on Sundays naturally angered the churches and should be banned, but it did not succeed. With the decline of old Bern, this custom was abolished again. Today, however, fish is always eaten on Friday at Carnival in Langenthal.
Carnival newspaper
The first references to a “carnival newspaper” can be found in 1910. At that time, verses were sent by post. In 1913, advertisements appeared for the first time, promoting “die Mücke”, the first official carnival newspaper, for 20 centimes. Since the mosquito many more leaves have appeared and a.
- 1920 «Tame - Wüeschete» (20 Cts) (Difficult to translate, thrown together wild heap)
- 1924 «D''Bräme» (The Brake) and «Dr Stüpfer» (The Treter)
- 1925 "D''Hächle" (Bern German for men)
- 1930 "Dr Donnergueg" den and "Dr Hörnergueg" (Gueg = beetle, Donnergueg = stag beetle)
- 1931 "Dr Hornuss" (60 cts) ( Hornussen ) and hell
- 1932 "The Snake"
- 1938 «Rabautz»
- 1939 «Dr Gliichschauter» (The equal switch)
- 1946 "D'Atombombe"
- 1950–1977 «the cactus» (70 cents to 2.50 Fr.)
- 1952 addition with "S'Gufechüssi" (the pin cushion)
- Since 1977 "Päng" (CHF 2.50, 1994 CHF 4.-, 2008 CHF 6.-)
Carnival market
In 1993 the first carnival market was held for the first time by its own committee. With 10 to 20 stands, the carnival market has established itself as the highlight of the carnival scene. Every year on the 3rd weekend in October, costumes, masks, instruments and accessories related to Carnival are sold, new or used. Today around 10,000 visitors from Switzerland and abroad can be seen in Langenthal around 160 market stalls with commercial and private participants from Switzerland. In addition, 20 Guggenmusiken from Switzerland play.
Peanuts
The LFG holds a traditional meeting every Friday in the carnival week. Today the current motto will be chosen at this meeting.
Plaques
In 1937 the first plaque was made from clay in an edition of 3000 pieces. Instead of the year, there are 2 question marks.
From 1971 plastic buttons were used. The badge, as it is known today, has been around since 1975, for the first two years only in silver, then also in copper, silver and gold. The same rules have always applied to the design of the badge.
The subjects Dudäpp and Choufhüsiturm must be present and the motto must be recognizable. The plaque competition has existed since 1984 and left the design to the public. Today around 15,000 badges are produced per carnival.
November 11, 11:11 a.m.
The carnival opening celebrated on November 11th has become a tradition. A speech by the Obers and performances by Guggenmusiken are part of this opening.
procedure
There are around 1600 active carnival enthusiasts. The oldest known clique today is the drum club, founded in 1948. 20 Guggenmusiken ensure a corresponding noise level.
There are 10 registered schnitzel banks, there are other free groups or individuals on the way. The oldest references to schnitzel banks found come from 1887 (verse in the jester's supplement to the official gazette), 1895 (Oberaargauer Tagblatt), or 1902 (schnitzel bank note found). Schnitzel banks probably go back to the medieval bank morality singers .
Around 15 car cliques prepare their vehicles for a two-hour deployment on the Sunday parade. After the move, the superstructures will be scrapped again. In 2006 it happened that the move had to be canceled in March due to heavy snowfall. In addition, the wagon builders also have to deal with vandalism .
In addition to the “bear gang” and other foot groups who also take part in the parade, there are also cliques for special musical tastes. The steel band "Fassduubeli" provides Caribbean sounds . The «Flötemadli» (fetus maggots) are there with their flutes, violins, accordions and guitars when choosing music. Music is played from Sergio Leone to Irish folk . The bagpipe combo “Oropax” was just as special .
program
The carnival in Langenthal begins six weeks before Easter on Friday evening and ends on Tuesday. A silver or copper badge is required for all larger events.
In 1971 the first patronage evening took place in the Hotel Kreuz, since then the number of participants and spectators has grown. Since around 2000, there has been a decline in audience numbers. On the patronage evening, inactive enthusiastic carnival enthusiasts appear in three bars. It starts at 7 p.m. and ends around midnight. Since, due to capacity reasons, not all Guggen can participate in the patronage evening, a replacement program has been created, the IIguggete.
The Guggen appear in the market hall from 00:01 and play until early in the morning. The carnival opening takes place at 2:01 p.m. in front of the Choufhüsi (former parish hall). Carnival fishing is practiced, in which the local councils catch plastic fish from a floating basket to the sound of Guggen. The big confetti battle takes place. Afterwards there is a celebration in the streets. The Guggen spectacle is announced by the evening. There are 32 Guggenmusiken on two stages from 20.01 to 24.01 o'clock continuously. Usually there are also six to seven external Guggen. The nudist (carnival cabaret) evening has established itself. The spectators, who like it a little quieter, go to one of the mill rooms from 7 p.m. At 23:00 this is ready. 14:14 the big carnival parade starts on Sunday. There is a bang and 30–40 Guggen, Wagen or family cliques roam the streets of Langenthal for 2–3 hours. Depending on the weather, there are between 10,000 and 20,000 spectators on site. From 7.30 p.m. on, the schnitzel banks do their rounds in 7 restaurants on the schnitzel bank circuit. The occasion is very popular. The Guggen are not allowed to play until 23:00 so that the verses can be understood.
Monday is all about children. At the children's morning, the children gather in front of the Choufhüsi (old parish hall) to play with sausage and bread or to display their masks for awards. The children's parade starts at 1:13 p.m. Schools and kindergartens present their colorful handicrafts, surrounded by spectators. The whole thing is loosened up by some Guggen music. After the move, the children of different ages can take part in the children's masked ball. From 9:00 p.m. the Kehrausball will take place in the Hotel Bären.
The Charivari takes place on Tuesday evening . From 4:45 p.m., a thousand clique members will be in the market hall. Alternately on two stages, the cliques show each other their skills. Only clique members are allowed in. From about 21:00 the Guggen return to the center and the "Uuslumpete" is celebrated in the alleys and restaurants / bars.
Carnival societies
Quodlibet
The Quodlibet was founded in 1923. Initially responsible for structuring the entire carnival event, it has been organizing the children's parade and the children's masked balls since 1925. This means that children, children's groups, kindergartens, school classes, children's music and children's institutions also have their appearance at Carnival. The basic idea of the children's carnival is to pass on the tradition of the carnival to the children and young people and to cultivate it. Hirsmontag belongs to the children and is characterized by children's breakfast, confetti fight, guggen music and spontaneous performances. At the children's mask awards, the most beautiful subjects are selected from individual masks, groups and classes and awarded a prize. Children's masked balls for different age groups follow in bars. In 2008 the Quodlibet had around 40 members.
Sulfur guild
The sulfur guild was founded in 1937. It ensured that the halls were full and the first large carnival parades. It was also the sulfur guild that was responsible for the resurrection of the carnival in Langenthal after the Second World War. Sometimes members of the Quodlibet were also part of the sulfur guild. The sulfur guild was then replaced by the LFG.
Langenthaler Fasnachtsgesellschaft (LFG)
On Monday, December 1, 1952, the Langenthaler Fasnachtsgesellschaft met at Fritz Meister's in the Hotel Bahnhof. Peter Kuert was elected the first president of the committee. The association renounced the resuscitation of the fallen asleep "sulfur guild"; but for this the «Langenthal Carnival Committee» was founded. The other co-initiators, Franz Bucher, Fritz Ruef, Fritz Meister, Gerard Jaccaud, Albert Schaufelberger and the absent Emil Geiser and Hans Flück took over the various batches.
The goal was achieved. On Sunday, February 21, 1953, a colorful and humorous carnival parade went through the streets lined with many spectators. The Langenthal street carnival was awakened again. In 2008 the LFG had around 50 members.
literature
- Samuel Gerber, Ruedi Bühler: The Langenthal Carnival from the beginning until today . Verl. Merkur-Dr .: Langenthal 1994, ISBN 3-907012-18-6 .
