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 Vogel Gryff by Myndo
It is one of the three Signs of the three "Ehrengesellschaften" of Basel. Guilds would be the english word (thank you JTF). They come from the old Zuenfte, where the Workers of Basel were put together. That was some sort of a union to help the workers.
The three Ehrengesellschaften / guilds are:
Rebhaus, Greifen and Haeren. They are represented at the "Vogel Gryff" Event through: the "Wild Maa" (wild man), "Vogel Gryff" (the Bird Griffin) and the Leu (Lion).
The Vogel Gryff is a thing of the smaller Basel (Kleinbasel).
The three Representants in their costumes are coming together, dancing in front of several buildings and going down the Rhine until the Middle Bridge on a raft.
The Gryff is not really a bird. It is that fabulous animal like seen in the newest Harry Potter, and it is often shown with four legs.A Griffin like in Griffindor
This "Vogel Gryff" festival is a tradition with many aspects.
When they are dancing, three Uelis are collecting money. The Uelis, that also belong to the three Ehrengesellschaften, are or white/green. There is a forth one white/black since 1937. They were collecting money for the widows and orphans of the members of the unions (there wasn't always the social state like today). Today the money they get (also over shecks) is still used for social institutions in the smaller Basel.
Another interesting thing is the Wild Man (see tip there).
The bigger Basel didn't like this festival, so they made and hung up a face that is showing its tongue to the smaller Basel. The "Laellekoenig" (Tongue - king). You can find that face on the Middle bridge looking at the side of the smaller Basel....
Start of this local event is around 10:30 (depends on the water in the Rhine)
2005 it will be on January 13th.
(The website is only in german) Leave a Comment
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 Laellekoenig by Myndo
The Tongue-King is a stone face showing its tongue to the Small Basel.
You can find it at the Middle Bridge (Mittlere Brücke).
It was hanging on the big doorway at the bigger Basel end of the bridge.
The original was made of copper with a crown and had a clockwork in it, so it would roll its eyes and show the red tongue to the other side of the Rhine.
That original one can still be found in the Historical Museum in Basel. Now we have a stone face.
Now why would someone hang something like that up?
Big Basel and Small Basel were concurring in the old times. When the smaller Basel "invented" the Vogel Gryff and its festival, that was bigger Basels answer...
You can find that face at the facade of the house at Schifflaende 1. But also in othe places. Leave a Comment
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 Wild Maa by Myndo
For a child is it an impressive and maybe frightening figure. It wears a crown and belt of ivy with apples in it and it is swinging a smaller tree ....
But the apples are special. The children are trying to "steal" one of them from the Wild Maa....
And if you are a woman and happen to get one of them as a present from the Wild Maa it is said that you are going to be pregnant - and soon!
7 kgs of apples the wild man has on him - but as you see in the picture they are all already gone ... so maybe he is not so a bad guy at all?
But uiuiui that tree can stitch if you happen to get to careless! Leave a Comment
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 FCB flag on the Rathouse by Myndo
FCB, that is our local Football Club, is playing well enough to attract a lot of fans.
They are Schweizermeister (best swiss football club) this year and 2002. 4-5 players do also play in the National Team.
So, do not be astounded to find the flag in red, blue and yellow almost everywhere - even on the Rathaus on the Market Place (see pic).
Its not only the flag, almost every third car from Basel and surrroundings has the sticker on it.
When they have a match at their local stadion (St. Jakob), the area is closed for cars - and you better not need a parking space right then. Leave a Comment
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St Nikolaus ("Samichlaus") Day, December 6, is an important event in Basel. It's worth visiting the city on that day if you want some additional pre-Christmas flair and do some Nikolaus-spotting. The Nikolaus's dress is usually the same as Santa Claus's. Only those who 'work' for churches will wear a more bishop-like outfit that resembles more the original Saint Nikolaus, bsihop of Myra.
The city is full of Santa Clauses that day. They are everywhere. In the shops, of course, for advertising reasons. In boats on the Rhine. In the streets. On horse-drawn carriages. Visiting churches. And... on motorbikes. Not any plain average motorbikes but heavy Harley Davidsons.
At 5 p.m. the city centre stops its shopping activities, people line up on the sidewalks to see the "Harley Niggi-Näggi" parade. I guess it's a local Harley club who does the parade. Some two dozen bikers dress up and decorate their bikes with incredible imagination.
See my travelogues for more pictures.
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 high fire on top of Hill by Myndo
On this day most shops are closed - as if it was a sunday.
Most festivities will be held on the evening before, though. Maybe because the next day (August 2nd) we have to work normally again.
So on 31st July in the evening there are fireworks in many cities all over switzerland.
If you want to see the (quite big) one in Basel, you just have to go to the border of the Rhine or one of the brides.
Many stands will provide you with food and drink.
If you rather like to have it more quiet, choose one of the suburban villages. Some of them, like Muttenz have high fires. That is they make big fires on the top of the hills. (See picture).
To get there you will have to walk a bit, though. Uphill. No cars allowed. Bring your own food and drink.
On the plus side you can watch the fireworks in the city and the villages around from up here. Leave a Comment
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There is a scheduled pick up time for all your disposables. Locals would put them out in the curb and the bags must be purchased from the city itself. Prices vary based on the size of the these bags.
In the U.S. or at least where I live, the city provides a huge barrell where we can dump as much trash as we want and the city dumptruck will come once a week to empty the barrell.
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What the sausages are for Aussies and the huge steaks are for the Americans, the humble pork chop is for switzies when inviting to a BBQ. Children get a cervelat and the adults indulge in plain pork chops usually served with some salads and crisps or pommes chips, as they are known here.
Of course I am joking here, about the idea that Swiss people only know to grill chops!!!
August 1st is our national holiday (as you have certainly learned now by reading this months Insights Column from Robin Daellenbach). This day is for many Swiss people THE occasion to throw a huge BBQ party for family and guests, so why not add a twist this time with these recipes for “differently” stuffed pork chops. Leave a Comment
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 Town Hall, Market Place by nygaston
You can walk or bike in the city.
But please, try not to use the car ! Leave a Comment
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 Basel on the Rhine by thinking
The Austrians assigned a man named Gessler to overlook their interests here. In an attempt to assess the loyalty to the Hapsburgers, Gessler placed his hat on a spike in the town square of Altdorf. All people were expected to bow to this hat before passing. William Tell and his son were passing one day and did not bow. With the intention of making an example out of William Tell, Gessler decided that his punishment would be to utilize his skill as a marksman against him instead of imprisoning him. Therefore, he placed Tell’s son against a tree, balanced an apple on his head and paced of 50 paces. Tell was expected to spear the apple with an arrow fired from his trusty crossbow. Tell loaded 2 arrows into the crossbow – took aim – and - as we are all aware, hit the target exactly. But this is not the end of the story….. Gessler was curious as to why Tell had loaded 2 arrows. Tell’s reply was simple, the second arrow was for Gessler, should his first arrow harm his son.
Gessler was infuriated and ordered Tell to be imprisoned anyway. On his way to the castle dungeon (located in Kussnacht) Tell ship (sailing across the Lake of Luzern) encountered a storm. Tell managed to save the ship and escape the guards. Tell swam to shore and hid in waiting at the castle in Kussnacht. Upon the arrival of Gessler at the castle, Tell took aim with his crossbow again and ended the rule of Gessler in Switzerland.
Once the Hapsburger rule was removed, the cantons Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden signed a document of allegiance. This document, known as the Bundesbrief, was signed on the Ruetli Meadow on August 1st.
Switzerland grew over the centuries and finally, in 1848, the Confederatio Helvetica was formed with the composition of the Federal Constitution (Bundesverfassung), which is still referred to today. Leave a Comment
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