Sächsilüüte

Every year there is a big celebration in Zurich where the members of the old guild put on their historical costumes and parade around the city. Everybody attends, especially if it is as beautiful a day as this year.

The parade is over three hours long and consists of several thousand people, including many children and hundreds of horses. None of the carts are moved using a motor, horses it is as it has always been.

The most important part starts at exactly 6pm: They set fire to the Bögg, a snowman made of paper stuffed with fireworks. The tradition says that faster the Bögg burns, the better is the summer going to be. The official time is measured from the moment the stake is set on fire to the second the head explodes.

 

Hours later, people use the remaing coal to build hundreds of little barbecues. Some people make it their entertainment to get the embers from the remaining stake, which is so hot only crazy people will get closer than 2-3 meters.

 And no, you don't need to know how to pronounce the title. It translates as "the ringing of the bells at 6 pm".

Live fair at the lifefair.

Last weekend I ended my second summer internship by accompanying my boss to a trade show called "Lifefair". It's topic was a sustainable and environmentally friendly life.

I worked for an internet marketplace selling all sorts of products produced under fairtrade conditions, made by handicapped people, made by unemployed people or produced on small organic farms. It's called faircustomer. I loved working there. It's a small company but it was good fun. I got to reorganise the website and in the end, go to this trade show with them. I had never been to one before, let alone representing a company and it turned out to be so much fun.

It was the first time in my life I had to sell something and I really learned a lot. I'll probably have the phrase "May I offer you one of our cards? We are an internet marketplace selling ..." stuck in my head for weeks but it really was a good experience and I enjoyed it so much more than expected. Smiles are key and leaving people some space is too. And also, standing for about 8 hours a day is a lot more straining than expected.

These were my favorite products. They are made from old bike tires by a company in St. Gallen called "Kleika": The medium size turquois one on the left now houses my make-up.A little reminder of the experience, the smiles, the people and the sore feet.

I think my favorite part of the show was this old loom, standing a few meters on our right. 

It represented Tessanda, of the last factories in switzerland were fabric is woved by hand on wooden looms. Isn't it gorgeous? I just stood in front of it, gaping at it, for hours and hours. The weaver probably thought I was insane.