Sechseläuten 2025 Parade in Zurich: Details and Insights

Sechseläuten (pronounced: zeks-e-loy-ten) is a traditional spring holiday in Zurich that takes place on the third Monday of April. This year, it falls on April 21, 2025.

To outsiders, this Zurich spring festival is best described as a kind of Groundhog Day. The protagonists? Camels, a parade of men in medieval costumes on horseback, and a snowman with an explosive head.

The name Sechseläuten literally means "the six o'clock ringing of the bells." It dates back to a medieval tradition when the city's guilds would switch from winter to summer working hours. During winter, work would end when the church bells rang at 5 PM, but in summer, the workday would extend until 6 PM.

Today, Sechseläuten is celebrated with a colorful parade of Zurich's traditional guilds and the burning of the Böögg, a snowman effigy symbolizing winter.

Sunday: Sechseläuten Children's Parade

Sunday is dedicated to children with the traditional children's parade (Kinderumzug). The parade begins at 2:30 PM, taking spectators on a historical journey through Zurich's different time periods and history. It features music groups, wagons, animals, and children in historical costumes or traditional dress.

The parade is accompanied by the opening group from the guest canton, various youth music groups and guild bands, as well as numerous carriages and wagons, all drawn by horses. The Böögg snowman marks the end of the children's parade.

Any child can participate in the children's parade – the only requirement is a historical costume or traditional dress. Online registrations for costume rentals usually open a couple of months before Sechseläuten in late February.

At the end of the parade, children meet at the Kongresshaus for Zvieri before being picked up by their parents. This afternoon snack is included in the participation fee.

Sunday: Meeting the Guest Canton on Lindenhof

During Sechseläuten, the Lindenhof becomes the "Place of Cantons." Since 1991, the anniversary year of the Swiss Confederation, the Zurich guilds have invited a Swiss canton to Sechseläuten each year.

The guest canton presents itself on the Lindenhof, an elevated square in the middle of the city. By inviting a guest canton, Zurich maintains strong relationships with other parts of Switzerland. And for the cantons, the appearance at Sechseläuten in Zurich represents a platform to present their best foods, tourism offerings, and traditions.

In 2025, the guest canton is Zug. At Lindenhof, they will have exhibitions and shops, entertainment and food, Zug specialties such as Chriesiwurst (cherry sausage), Walchwiler mountain cheese, cherry cake, Baar beer, and Etter cherry schnapps. There will also be an exhibition titled "Cherries, Crypto & Clichés."

Sechseläuten Monday Parade and Böögg Burning

On Sechseläuten Monday, the festivities begin early with cannon shots at 7 AM. Throughout the morning, various traditional activities take place across the city, including the throwing of bread rolls at Grossmünsterplatz, mortar firing on the Gemüsebrücke, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hans Waldmann monument.

Most workers are released by 2 PM for the Sechseläuten parade of floats. The main parade begins at 3 PM, featuring over 350 riders, around 50 horse-drawn wagons, and nearly 30 music corps marching along Bahnhofstrasse and Limmatquai to Sechseläutenplatz.

Each float is designed and built by a different guild, and each guild tries to outdo the others with its creative and intricate designs. The floats are made of wood and paper mache and decorated with flowers, lanterns, and other colorful decorations.

One of the most exciting parts of the Sechseläuten parade is the burning of the Böögg. The Böögg is a large, wooden snowman set on fire at the end of the parade.

At 6 PM sharp, the bonfire topped by a snowman is torched, and the count is on: How long will it take for the head to explode? According to local legend, the faster the Böögg burns, the better the summer will be. The burning of the Böögg is a symbol of the arrival of spring and the end of winter.

While the snowman is ablaze, mounted guild members ride around the burning pyre three times to the sounds of traditional marches. After the Böögg explodes, the guilds retreat to their guild houses for dinner and celebration, often continuing late into the night.

Meanwhile, you will find many locals who will meet up at the bonfire in front of the opera house for a down-to-earth tradition. The "common people" of Zürich will BBQ sausages in the gigantic fire and have a drink!

History of the Sechseläuten Parade

The Sechseläuten parade has a long history that dates back to the 16th century. It is said that the parade was originally organized to mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring. The parade was also a way for the people of Zurich to show off their wealth and prosperity, as each float was designed and built to reflect the wealth and status of the participating guilds.