Its original purpose was to drive away the evil demons of winter. The three main carnival days are "Schmutzige Donnerstag", "Güdelmontag" and "Güdeldienstag". In Obwalden, these days are called "schmutzigä Dunschtig", "fäissä" or "fätzigä Määndig" and "Gigelzyyschtig". Ash Wednesday marks the end of the fun and games with masks.
To the carnival calendar
Usinnig Urchig
Customs & Tradition
In Obwalden, a large number of Swiss traditions and customs are actively practiced and duly celebrated. Many of these events characterize the course of the year. The start is marked by the colorful and exuberant carnival celebrations, autumn brings the centuries-old Älplerchilbi and the impressive Alpine processions, before the St. Nicholas processions and pretty Christmas markets bring the year to a close around 6 December.
Like every region in Switzerland, the people of Obwalden cultivate their customs and traditions. These are not only their own traditions, but also customs that exist in a similar form elsewhere. Customs are also the daily habits and small practices that have given everyday life a face and still do today.
Harvest festival
Älplerchilbi
The Älplerchilbi is a centuries-old alpine festival at which the farmers come together after a rich alpine summer to thank God for the gifts they have received and to enjoy themselves afterwards with food, music and dancing.
The savages
Typical of the Älplerchilbi are the two savages, Hude and Läsi, who are called Christä and Triini in Lungern. They are reminiscent of ancient times, when remnants of the pagan indigenous population still lived in the mountains. They helped the new immigrant farmers on the Alps and were invited to the Chilbi in return.
The savages frolic around the village with the children and recite their rhyming sayings in the afternoon on the schoolyard square, blabbing the sins and stupidities of the villagers in a coded form. The alpine farmers and their companions in traditional costumes and the invited guests form a colorful ring behind which the people line up. The sayings are therefore public.
Älplerchilbi dates 2024
Melchtal
Saturday, October 12, 2024, 2.15 p.m. Proverbs
Jodlermess: 9.15 a.m.
Sayings: 2.15 p.m. & 11.00 p.m.
Sarnen
Saturday, October 19, 2024
2:00 p.m. Proverbs, village square
Kerns
Friday, October 18, 2024
Proverbs public 2 p.m., school grounds
Kägiswil
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Proverbs public 2 p.m., school grounds
Stalden
Friday, October 25, 2024
10.30 a.m. Yodeling Mass
2.00 p.m. Proverbs
Lungern
Friday, October 25, 2024
2 p.m., multi-purpose building
Giswil
Saturday, October 26, 2024
2 p.m. Proverbs, Hotel Bahnhof
Sachseln
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Proverbs 2 p.m., Schulhausplatz
Alpnach
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Proverbs public 2 p.m., Schulhausplatz
Wilen
Saturday, November 9, 2024
7.00 a.m. Breakfast in the Wilen gym
Schoried (Alpnach)
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Proverbs 2 p.m., by the chapel
Usinnig scheen
St. Nicholas processions
December 6 is St. Nicholas Day or "Samiglais" in Obwalden. For many children and families, the Samiglais visit is a milestone in the Advent season in preparation for Christmas.
The Samiglais wears a red coat with a hood and a long white beard. The dark-clad "Schmutzli" always accompanies the Samiglais. The two come to the children's homes on the evening of December 6th, visit schools and kindergartens and carry a sack full of nuts, mandarins, gingerbread and other treats. The children practise special Samiglais sayings for this day, which they then recite and are rewarded with treats. The Schmutzli also carries a rod to punish the naughty children, but this is hardly ever used.
Relocation dates 2024
Flüeli-Ranft
Friday, November 22, 2024
Route: Multipurpose hall - Flüeliplatz - Multipurpose hall
Kerns
Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 8 p.m.
Route: school building - village square - church - school building
Giswil
Friday, November 29, 2024 at 7.30 p.m.
Route: Restaurant Träumli - school building
Kägiswil
Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Route: Schulhausstrasse- Dörfli - former town hall
Sachseln
Friday, November 29, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Route: Bahnhofplatz - Pilatusstrasse - Dorfplatz - Dorfstrasse
Sarnen
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 7.30 p.m.
Route: School building - Hotel Krone - Lindenstrasse - train station - village square
Lungern
Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 5:40 p.m. (St. Martin's procession)
Route: old Krichturm - parish church
Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 1.30 p.m. (St. Nicholas procession)
Route: Alter Krichturm - parish church
From Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8, groups will also be out and about in the village visiting households in the evenings.
Melchtal
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7.30 p.m.
Route: Sawmill - Widderhuis
Christmas markets
Visit the Christmas markets in Obwalden. Originally, the Christmas markets served to give people the opportunity to stock up on winter necessities at the beginning of the cold season. Over time, the markets became an integral part of Christmas customs.
Data:
- Pilatus Friday, November 15 - 17, 2024
- Lungern Saturday, November 23, 2024
- Sarnen Wednesday, November 27, 2024
- Sachseln Saturday, December 7, 2024
- Kerns* Wednesday, December 4, 2024
* Livestock and goods market