Chalandamarz in Samedan
Overview
Intro
On March 1st, children parade through the village with bells and colorfully decorated hats, driving away winter with singing, cracking whips and ringing bells.
Chalandamarz, Chaland'avrigl, laschè las vachas our d'uvigl...
The roots of Chalandamarz can be traced back to pagan times, to the Romans.
The month of March is dedicated to Mars, the god of the sun and war.
According to the Julian calendar, the year began in March, which also marked the start of spring in warmer regions.
This event was celebrated with grand festivities to ask Mars for his
blessing on the fields, meadows and livestock.
The Romans also played an important role in the Engadine and left traces of their customs there.
Whips crack, bells ring and singing drives away the invisible spirits.
This noise is intended to frighten the winter (spirit) and thus awaken fertility.
| Contact address |
Engadin Tourismus AG
Engadin Tourismus AG Plazzet 21 7503 Samedan +41 81 851 00 60 |
|---|---|
| Location |
Samedan Tourist Information Plazzet 21 7503 Samedan Switzerland |
| Event Homepage | https://www.engadin.ch/de/samedan |
The content presented here is provided and updated by regional/local tourist offices or event organisers, which is why Switzerland Tourism is unable to guarantee the correctness of the contents.
Event dates
- 01 March 2026