Räbenlicht
As Räbenlichter is called in Alemannic region a traditional lantern , made from turnips (Designation in the Alemannic dialect Räbe ). In the Middle Ages, beets played the same role in basic nutrition as today's potatoes. When the last crops are brought in in November, the children in various Swiss cantons make such lanterns.
Origin and manufacture
Today the rod has lost its importance as a staple food. The lights are carved out of the turnip. To do this, they are first hollowed out with a spoon and then the subject is removed from the purple skin with a sharp knife . Traditionally, the main subjects used are the sun, moon and stars, which are also sung about in the songs.
While this work used to be done mainly at home with the family, it has - like the relocations - shifted to local youth clubs, schools and kindergartens. The vines are often made available to the youth by the school or local transport or trade associations.
Removals
Suspended on three strings and carried on a stick, the candles are carried by the children through the dark streets, with the light shining through the thin walls, especially in the case of the subjects. With today's street lighting, an evening in November is often reserved for a cave lights parade, on which the street lighting is switched off. After the parades, the cave lights are placed in the window until the candle has burned down. Often times, the family or neighborhood moves are repeated every evening until the lights are shriveled up and composted .
The parades also include the corresponding songs, such as I go with my lantern , the also written German lantern, lantern, sun, moon and stars or in Alemannic Räbeliechtli, where gasch hii?
The tradition of moving apparently dates back to the middle of the 19th century. In the community of Richterswil , for example, it is said that the first moves took place around 1860. Before that, the robes had been used by individuals to find their way to the evening service in the dark.
See also
- Saint Martin's Parade - similar traditions in other countries
- Bochsel Night
- Räbechilbi - major event in Richterswil with approx. 25 tons of räben
- Bach fish in Aarau
- Beet spirits
- Jack O'Lantern
literature
- Margret Strub: Out into the country . Zurich: Atlantis, 1994.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Verkehrsverein Richterswil - Information on Räbenchilbi ( Memento of the original from January 2, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Website of the Richterswil Tourist Office. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
