Chalandamarz (GR)

In the morning, the boys parade through town clanging their bells (sometimes other instruments are included), so that "the grass grows better". They collect money and nice things to eat, which they later share. Then there is a ball which lasts late into the night.

In some places, the parade through the village is enriched with a touch of carnival or resembles a (much too early) Alpine pageant. In many places, the participating children are dressed in blue overskirts with red scarves for the occasion.

There are no documents tracing this custom back very far. However, the sheer fact that it is so widespread and contains certain characteristics point to a rather early origin.

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