CHE/VS/2020

TSCHÄGGÄTTÄ – Carnival in the Swiss Alps

In a remote valley in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, old traditions have survived. The Tschäggätta, frightening creatures running alone or in groups through the narrow streets of the mountain village, are the living proof of this.

There are several theories about the origin of this centuries-old custom. One explanation is based on a tale that states that in ancient times, people living on the poorer shady side of the valley dressed up in masks to plunder the villages on the opposite richer sunny side during their nocturnal forays.

Covered in animal pelts and wearing scary wooden masks, the creatures waved bells and frightened the girls. In the past, the Tschäggättä poured ash on the heads of their victims. They even went so far as to enter houses and steal food, not forgetting to manhandle the occupants to a certain extent.

The dreadful tradition was banned in 1865 due to the growing popularity of the Lötschental as a winter tourism destination. Gradually reintroduced in a more civilized form at the beginning of the 20th century, the Tschäggättä have since lost some of their wild spirit and now attempt to parade in an orderly fashion through the village in front of thousands of people, residents, and tourists.

Until the end of the 1950s, the Tschäggättä were exclusively local bachelors, but nowadays married men as well as women and children bring the demonic mythical creatures back to life.

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