Thu, Feb 8th 2024
The Fritschium Parade, a vivid display of floats and music, captivated 40,000 in Lucerne, featuring political satire and innovative concepts amidst traditional festivity.
In Lucerne, the Fritschium Parade, organized by Zunft zu Safran, saw 40,000 spectators, a slight drop from the previous year. The parade began at 2 pm, with 44 groups traversing from Schweizerhofquai to Bundesplatz. The event was rich in detailed floats, eerie masks, and vibrant costumes, all set to the lively tunes of Guggenmusik bands.
Political satire was highlighted, with the Saffron Guild’s “Swiss National Bank” float critiquing inflation, while Bueri Chessler’s “UBB” envisioned a submarine commute under Lake Lucerne. The Wey Guild humorously commented on local police station closures, and Göigglers, in police garb, focused on FC Lucerne’s soccer exploits.
The parade wrapped up by 4.30 pm under partly sunny skies, setting the stage for continued celebrations.
25,000 joined the Fritschi family’s morning march, marking the start of the carnival. However, some Zurich attendees missed the early excitement due to a train mishap, which SBB later resolved with a replacement train.
The carnival, extending across the canton, was reported by Lucerne police as peaceful, without notable incidents, ensuring the success of the festivities.
©Keystone/SDA
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