Zurich Knabenschiessen aka boys’ shooting day
Yesterday was a public holiday in the city of Zürich and one of the most unusual festivals in Switzerland took place over the long weekend. Knabenschiessen translates roughly as boys’ shooting day and it is what it says it is – a shooting contest. All children are given the day off school, and teenagers aged between 13-17 take part in a traditional target shooting competition using Swiss army rifles.
Anyone can turn up and shoot, as long as they are the right age and either live or go to school in Canton Zürich – no experience required. Since 1991 girls are allowed to shoot too – and actually this year the winner, and the only person to shoot a perfect score, was a 15 year old schoolgirl. It was only the 3rd time a girl has won.
The competition is always held on the second weekend in September and has officially been held since 1889, but actually dates back to the 17th Century, making it one of the oldest festivals in Switzerland. This year over 4,000 kids turned up to shoot and many thousands more to enjoy the huge funfair that surrounds the competition.
My son – who is 12 – is desperate to be old enough to take part and we’ve already had a discussion along the lines of: ‘Mum, when I win the giant flat screen television next year, can I have it in my bedroom?‘. No ifs or buts, my boy fully expects to win. Life could get exciting round here!
I can’t imagine something like this happening anywhere else -but maybe I’m wrong. Here, with a few exceptions, all men do military service and they all take their rifles, pistols and ammunition home with them and keep them once their service is over….just incase they need to defend the country in a hurry… It took me a while to get my head round the whole idea. This is not something that would ever happen in England!
Helen
September 13th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Go girls!! That`s an interesting idea…I have to say I don`t like guns, I don`t like the idea of people having them in their houses and I have to say the idea of an entire nation taking their guns and ammo home absolutely horifies me. However, the Swiss are such a peaceful nation, I guess it works for them! Good luck to your son – I hope he gets his flat screen TV…once he`s old enough!
September 13th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
When our son, Evan, lived in Lucerne , I learned all about the mandatory service and the guns being kept from his friends He said all his friends had guns under their beds. I agree with the mandatory service (I actually think it helps a teen mature), but I stop at guns under the bed. If your boy is determined to win, he probably will. Positive thinking, right?
September 13th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Haha, I always tease my Zurchers by telling them I assume they shot the boys… ok, so maybe not funny?!
My SIL admitted he mixes Knabenschiessen and Sächsilüüte up – Knabenläuten and Sächsischüüsse??!! LOL
Which reminds me I’ve just read a pretty good detective story that takes place in and around Zurich and the Sächsilüüte, to do with the FIFA, called “Sächseläuten” by Michael Theurillat…
September 13th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
At the end of the day guns are safer in the hands of people who respect them and understand how to use them properly and safely. But quite an odd ‘souvenir’ to get after you have done your service time! I like the defence of your country concept but do hope they are kept in gun cabinets, not under the bed (as per a previous comment)!