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May<br />
'Maiensässfahrt'<br />
For nearly 160 years <strong>–</strong> since 1854 <strong>–</strong><br />
school children in Chur have made an<br />
annual trip to the alpine pastures, the<br />
'Maiensässfahrt', on a sunny day in<br />
May. At seven in the morning about<br />
3,000 schoolchildren and their teachers<br />
leave the town through its upper gateway<br />
and proceed to the surrounding alpine<br />
pastures, where they spend the day<br />
playing and enjoying a barbecue. In the<br />
evening, the townsfolk line up to welcome<br />
the children back. This is followed<br />
by a procession to the Quaderwiese. After<br />
the official speeches everyone sings<br />
traditional songs to mark the occasion.<br />
The highlight of the day is when one of<br />
the teachers calls out to the children:<br />
"… there will be no school<br />
tomorrow!"<br />
The Alpine town:<br />
Chur offers both<br />
mountain air and<br />
city life. 2203<br />
May / June<br />
'Kränzli and Tschäppel'<br />
Every year on Ascension Day, mothers<br />
and grandmothers in Prättigau pick<br />
gentians, forget-me-nots, buttercups,<br />
daisies and other spring flowers growing<br />
in this region. The flowers are intricately<br />
woven into garlands for their daughters<br />
and granddaughters. The boys receive<br />
sprays of flowers, known as 'Tschäppel',<br />
which they affix to their lapels. Thus<br />
adorned and dressed in either traditional<br />
costume or their Sunday best, the<br />
villagers make their way to the church,<br />
where a special service is held. In Luzein<br />
and Pany, the children have the honour<br />
of being driven to the church by pony<br />
cart. Each village celebrates Ascension<br />
Day a little differently, and there is often<br />
a festive procession before or after<br />
the church service.<br />
18<br />
www.rhb.ch/contura
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