Escalade (Feast of the Storming) in Switzerland

Holiday of assaultDecember 11 on the streets of Geneva poured people dressed in costumes of soldiers and citizens of the early seventeenth century. The celebration in honor of the holiday is held annually and lasts two days. Escalade is held in memory of the battle in which the Genevans defended the right to independently decide the fate of their city. Once Geneva was ruled by a bishop, and the city itself and the surrounding lands were in the possession of powerful Savoy counts.

Already in the Middle Ages, the citizens achieved self-government and other privileges in the struggle against the lord of the city and the Savoy counts. In the XVI century, Geneva signed an agreement with Fribourg and Bern and as a union land joined the Swiss confederation. The people of Geneva expelled the bishop and achieved independence. But then the Count of Savoy, who received the title of Duke from the Pope, intervened - he decided to return the possessions that he had once inherited from his ancestors.

Under cover of night, the Duke's troops approached the walls of the city. The people of Geneva, unsuspectingly, slept peacefully. A little more and enemy soldiers quietly occupied the city fortifications.

However, the insidious plan was not destined to be implemented. And all thanks to one woman. Her name was Mom Royom. A resident of Geneva, mother Royom went out at night on the city wall. What she needed there, history is silent. From the wall, she saw soldiers sneaking into the city. Royom threw a pot at them that contained hot soup. The pot hit one of the soldiers, who from surprise shot from the arquebus. The Genevans were awakened by a shot and the secret plan thwarted.

Valiant citizens began to fire weapons at enemies with all their might and thus had to retreat. In memory of this event, shots are thundering on the streets of Geneva on the Escalade holiday. And shooting comes from the most real arquebuses.

The climax of the holiday is an evening costume procession. Passing the audience are members of the city militia, noble citizens, arquebusier, someone dressed in the clothes of a peasant. Flutists and drummers perform military marches of the time.

In addition, on the holiday you need to eat a cup of vegetable soup, and then a chocolate “pot”, stuffed with marzipan vegetables. There is a custom to break a chocolate pot with the words “let all enemies of the Republic perish as well!”