Maiensässfahrt (Chur)
The Maiensässfahrt in Chur , the capital of the canton of Graubünden , is an annually recurring festival for all of Chur's school children, which includes a day trip to Maiensäss on Chur's local mountains, especially on Mittenberg or Brambrüesch . The custom dates back to 1854.
prehistory
A rod festival has been handed down from the 17th century, at which rods were probably carved for punishment in schools. This tradition broke off in 1656.
In 1835 a petition was sent to the school management that “a general festival should be held in spring or autumn to encourage teachers and students”. The first attempts to establish such a festival failed because the adults held drinking bouts that escalated into brawls.
In 1853 a teachers' conference took up the old idea of a school festival. In the following year, on June 12, 1854, the first Chur Maiensässfahrt took place.
procedure
At 7:00 a.m. (in the early years they set off at 5:00 a.m.) the march through the Obertor takes place . The festive finale takes place in the evening on the Quaderwiese. The Chur Maiensäss song and the Chur anthem What is as beautiful as our city ...? sung, whereupon a teacher speaks the traditional Chur German sentence: ... and moora isch schualfrei! (= And tomorrow is no school).
Since 1885, the pupils have been changing their clothes on the descent on the rose hill and marching into the city in costumes. In 1974 a three-year rhythm for the collection of traditional costumes was introduced. Music societies are also involved.
Chur Maiensäss song
Silent mountain, much dear forest,
high joy halls!
Our cheer resounds
when we tumble uphill.
Where the anemones bloom
dark alpine roses glow,
our eyes look, look,
in the deep blue!
Homeland, you green port,
where the sources rustle.
Our youth golden hoard,
teach us to listen in silence!
When the happy days pass
when the joys blow away cool,
let's quietly question the heart
after the youth days.
literature
- Peter de Jong: The Maiensäss parade under the sign of the Chur street names. In: Churer Magazin , 5/2013, p. 4f.
- Heinrich Jecklin: Churer Maiensässfahrten. A memory book in words and pictures. Terra Grischuna Verlag, Chur 1984.
Web links
- The Chur Maiensässfahrt on lebige-tradUNGEN.ch
Individual evidence
- ↑ Peter de Jong (see under literature); P. 4