Swanning about in Switzerland - numero 2

Straight laced Swiss - no way!

Well, I used to perhaps think of the Swiss as being quite serious and strait-laced (maybe that was just a poor reflection on myself!), but the short stay in Zermatt showed an entertaining side to a village event, and one I wish was seen more often in the UK - a chance for the kids to have a bit of anarchy against authority!

A wonderful parade of all the rich variety of local folk tradition, old local costumes, music, and so on, was followed by what looked to be the old local fire brigade with its hand pumped water hoze.

Stranger still was the fact that every so often, the fire crew would aim their water nozzle at a house balcony and then let rip with a spray of hand pumped water, and if that didn't entertain them enough, they'd spray the watching crowd!

But after a little while, all became apparent - the local tradition was for children to stock up on water pistols, sprays, water balloons, etc., and then try to ambush the 'fire brigade' as they followed the parade around the village. T

he aim of the fire crew therefore was to try to anticapate where the kids would ambush them and then counter-attack!!
And of course, just occasionally, the spray would accidentally end up spraying the watching crowds or people on their balconys overlooking the parade.
The kids had a whale of a time, loved it if they managed to hit the fire crew, and loved it even more if they ended up soaking wet! And the crowd just soaked it all up (well apart from when your expensive new camera got an unexpected splashing of water!!)
All in all, an excellent way to round up a serious local parade and for the children to have a wonderful time too!

Ooh yes, and the water container also made an excellent cold store for the bottles of beer!