Eierleset (egg hunting) in Cantons Basel, Aargau & Solothurn

With some variation depending on the Canton, this age-old tradition is held similarly in one of two versions: either as a pure sports competition or a competition in dress up costumes.

Dress up is as important as the competition itself in the latter version. On the Sunday after Easter, two groups of competing runners – one dressed up representing winter, the other spring – collect as many of the one hundred raw eggs in their team’s basket as possible. The eggs are placed in sawdust rows and must be picked one-by-one. With every tenth egg special tasks need to be completed, like throwing the raw egg from a distance into a wide basket. Cheating and all sorts of trickery are encouraged, but in the end, the spring group has to win, even if winter has to hold back a little. The tradition goes back to at least 1556 when it is first mentioned in writing in Basel. Everyone participates in the “Eiertätschet” (cracking a fully cooked egg against that of a partner). The expectation is that the strength of the egg enters the eater and that fertile spring will start in the land.

Chlefeli…

…are two small wooden boards, cut out on one side so they can be hung on both sides of the middle finger. When shaken, they make a distinct, rhythmical sound.

From Ash Wednesday to Good Friday you can hear “Chlefeli” everywhere in the villages of Brunnen and Schwyz. Five weeks ahead, children as young as Kindergarten are practicing the age old instrument for the price winning, week-long competition just before Easter. Chlefeli may originate from the Spanish castagnettes or from the Middle Ages, when lepers and others with communicable diseaes were required to announce themselves. Watch the short video to hear this amazing instrument played by the proud youngsters from Brunnen and Schwyz.

Easter Monday Blue-Egg-Swim – Lake Greifensee

Share one of your favorite Swiss Easter traditions and leave a comment here.