Zibelemärit

The Onion Market ( Bernese German for standard German " Onion Market ") is a fair with folk festival character in Bern. It takes place on the fourth Monday in November. It extends across the main and side streets of the old upper town and about the orphanage and federal court.

History

Formation theories

The historical background of the Zibelemärit are not officially belong; There are various theories about. According to recent research the Bernese folklorist Rudolf J. Ramseyer the market mid-19th century has emerged. Since then, farmers came from Zeeland and the Canton of Fribourg about the Martinmas (November 11 ) with vegetables to Bern; The Martini fair then took another two weeks.

Two other theories put to the beginnings of Zibelemärits in the 15th century. The one leading the market back to the fire of 1405; the market is a thank you to Freiburg, which had done great neighborly help after the great conflagration. The other assumes that the Freiburg have acquired the market rights because of military aid from 1474 to 1477 in the Burgundian Wars. Both are neither prove nor objectively comprehensible.

Martini fair

Since the late Middle Ages to celebrate the Bernese, like the other inhabitants of the southern German area, each St. Martin's Day or the "Martini" as a transition between the summer and the winter. It was celebrated with festive meals and moves, where especially the youth involved. A market accompanied the party. He offered everything for the winter demand. Over time, he expanded and was raised in 1439 by the authorities for duty-free fair.

The actual Zibelemärit does not begin until the 19th century when farmers from Mont Vully vegetables - especially onions but - applied to the markets in Neuchâtel, Morat and Freiburg. ( The area of Mont Vully - to the German " Wistenlach ." - Is a fertile area with many sources between Murten and Neuchâtel On the slopes grew vines, the white and the bright red " Vully " had a good reputation but the. . risk in viticulture was great. 's why the " Vullierain " operational beside much vegetable. ) in the period around 1850, the women of the farmers also appeared in Bern at the Martini fair. Soon the " Wistenlacher Wybli " were known for its lively, cheerful and polite kind welcome in Bern. More and more advanced the beautiful braided onion braids in the forefront of their offer. Quick flourished on the new onion market.

Reasons for the emergence of Zibelemärit

First, everything was sold at the Martini fair. Everything except onions. This shows a view into the official price lists at the time: Nowhere is the price of onions is listed. This allowed the " Vullierains ", the price to be determined by you and the buyer to " märten " ( haggle ), since they were the only ones still had the onions in the offer. So were - to meet demand - the onions in the morning more favorable than in the evening. That might be the reason that the Zibelemärit still starts early at four clock today.

Second, the onion vendors were each a day earlier at the Martini fair and actually had to share with the Heimberger " Chacheli " shopkeepers along the streets of Bern. They therefore set no Bernese farmers to stand in dispute. In our time, the large department stores in the Martini fair have breathed life. Remained the onions however. The Autumn Fair was reduced to one day and soon became the name " Martini fair" repressed, and the Bernese folk festival was only called Zibelemärit.

Presence

The rest Martini Tradition has been maintained:

• A festive meal of cheesecake, plus of course, came the Onion
• The wild " confetti battle " (start by 16 clock )
• The two-week funfair on the Schützenmatte ( at the cultural Riding Hall)

Even today, almost everything revolves around the Onion Market onion in all its forms: Onion braids, onion and pizza, onion soup, handicrafts and ornaments made of onions and much more.

The Onion Market takes place always on the fourth Monday in November. It starts at 4 ( "officially" by 6 ) clock and ends after 18 clock.

Trivia

The lettering " Bernese Onion Market » sheet along with Bear and Zwiebelzopf the 10 - Fr commemorative coin 2011.