Chalandamarz - an old Engadin custom 2026

In the past, elections for public offices were held on this 1st March, but at the same time winter was driven out. The male youth paraded through the village with cowbells, then ate together and danced with their marriageable daughters. Today Chalandamarz is a festival for everyone: boys, girls, parents and guests. In the Chalandamarz parade, everyone has their role and their costume: the small children with the small bells are the calves.

The boys and girls with the large, deep-sounding bells, the "Plumpas", are the cows. In Sils they all wear the typical blue farmer's smock and red hat. The three oldest members of the procession, the "Senn", the "Zusenn" and the "Hirt", look after the wild herd of children. They also sing the songs. Donations and food are transported on a decorated wagon, which is given to the children. The "Schellen-Ursli" is known all over the world, whether as a film by Xavier Koller (produced in 2015) or as a picture book by Alois Carigiet and Selina Chönz (published in 1945).

Little Ursli (Ursli) doesn't want a bell for the Chalandamarz, but a really big bell. He fetches it from the snowed-in alpine hut - and at the end he is allowed to proudly lead the Chalandamarz procession. As a picture book, the ancient Graubünden custom has become known as far as China and Japan.