Zurich celebrates the start of summer with the traditional Sechseläuten festival, featuring the symbolic burning of the Böögg.

The Böögg has been enthroned on long poles above Zurich’s Sechseläutenplatz since early Monday morning: Throughout the morning, the logs were slowly piled up underneath it so that it would catch fire at 6 p.m. faster than last year.

Last year, it took 57 minutes for the head of the Böögg to explode – longer than ever before. This year, the wood was stacked a little less tightly to allow more air to pass through and thus speed up the combustion process.

Among other things, the 2024 Böögg is equipped with suspenders and a pipe typical of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. This is taking part in the traditional spring festival – for the first time – as a guest canton.

Sechseläuten opened on Friday with a joint march by the guest canton delegation, guild masters and other guests to the Lindenhof.

The big parade is scheduled for Monday afternoon: Around 3500 “Zoifter” (Zünfter) in costumes and uniforms, over 350 riders and around 30 music corps parade through Zurich’s city center. At 6 p.m. sharp, the “Holzstoss” is lit on Sechseläutenplatz.

The earlier the Böögg’s head flies into the air, the earlier the summer is supposed to start and the longer, nicer and warmer it is supposed to be.

©Keystone/SDA