The modern-day Sechselauten or Sachsiluute spring festival originates from three different roots:
1. It is strongly linked to the guilds of Zurich, the political, military, social, and business institutions that have steered and shaped the city’s fortunes for 450 years. They are the patrons of Zurich spring festival. It was the guilds’ erstwhile trade regulations that determined tradesmen’s working hours, and this is where Sechselauten’s second root comes in: 2. During wintertime the lack of light meant that work had to stop at 5 p.m., in the summertime the end of working day would be signaled by the “Sechs-Uhr-Liuten”— the six o’clock ringing of the bells.
3. The festival is also rooted in an old pagan custom of burning away winter to mark the start of the warmer season.
April 8, 2019
Every person in the parade either carries a bunch of fresh flowers, has flowers in or her pockets, in a basket, on their heads, clothes, etc. Many give flowers to the spectators. I got 4 giant roses. The first one was given to a female police officer who gave it to me. The three other pieces were given to me by a tall Swiss guy who stopped to ask me what happened to my arm. He took his time asking and he gave me three roses and told me to please take care of myself. He also asked where I was from, if I live in Zurich.
