Chalandamarz
In ancient pagan times, the vital task of driving away the icy season on March 1st was once the responsibility of the youths of a village. Today, the custom of "Chalandamarz" is the heart of one of the happiest days in the Engadine and is firmly in the hands of children.
One custom, many variations
Wherever the ‘Chalandamarz’ is celebrated in the Engadine, songs, the ringing of cowbells and a cheerful children's ball with dancing and music play central roles. But that's where the similarities in the design of this colourful custom end (if you disregard the good mood of everyone involved): sometimes as a pure ‘boys’ thing‘, sometimes with girls and boys, sometimes traditional as in the famous children's book classic ’Schellen-Ursli" by Sel ina Chönz and with legendary illustrations by Alois Carigiet, sometimes as a carnival procession with satirical undertones... the diversity of the different Chalandamarz traditions in each village reflects the rich diversity of the Engadine.
As is fitting for a transhumance, the young ‘shepherds’ (often equipped with capes and sticks) drive the ‘cows’ (the bell-wearing crowd of children in blue peasant blouses and red pointed caps, adorned with handmade paper or silk flowers), while the ‘Senn’ (the oldest pupil in the village) oversees and leads the group. If he stops and gathers them around him, the Senn becomes a conductor: first, the most famous Chalandamarz song by Otto Barblan about the departure of cows, sheep and goats from their dark stables into the light of spring, rings out from the bright children's throats, followed by other songs from the Rhaeto-Romanic Chalandamarz tradition. In some communities, you can also admire the magnificent Engadin costume worn by the oldest girls, who, as ‘mistresses’, collect small donations of money from the spectators.
Those who want to take responsibility should start early!
The young actors are not only in the spotlight on 1 March itself; they also play the main roles during the preparation period, because the main organisation of this important day is entirely up to them! Who plays which role? Where can I get a bell? Whoever wants to carry the biggest bell – since the story of ‘Schellen-Ursli’ the world knows: this is the declared goal of every ‘Kuh’ (a term of endearment for a young man from the region) – has to come up with something, and the paper flowers (‘Rösas’) are also made by themselves.
The adults, who are responsible for administrative tasks or for feeding the hungry crowd of children during this spectacle, are proud and happy spectators when the bells ring, whips crack, and the old songs resound through the streets of their village at ‘Chalandamarz’ - and spring finally arrives.