#gansabhauet

i loro campanellini d’argento.

The Gansabhauet [goose off cutting] is a tradition celebrated each 11th of November in Sursee. It dates back to the late middle ages but the purpose is unknown. While the big sun mask and the red coat invite for many interpretations, it is commonly assumed that they were just parts of costumes that were found in the theater storage. As it would be too easy to just cut of the goose with a sword, the contesters are deprived their sight and have to use a blunt sword. The person that manages to cut it off first is normally allowed to keep the goose, but during the world wars, the goose was often kept by the town officials while the winner received 10CHF

Gansabhauet is a festival held only in the country town of Sursee, Switzerland, on St. Martin's Day. A dead goose is suspended from a wire in the town square, and participants, mostly young men, attempt to cut off its head with a blunt sabre. The young men, blindfolded and wearing red robes and large sun-shaped masks, get only one try at the bird. The contestants are accompanied by drummers whose job is both to lead them to their quarry and confuse them at the same time.