Description: It's 5:00 A.M. and in the cheery darkness as the masses awaited the wave of the Fritschi Father and his troops as he opened the window of the Town Hall on the Kornplatz in Lucerne, and they listened for the resounding boom that began the revelry. Immediately everyone jumped around clapped their hands and began to dance to the music of the Guugemuusige(local masked bands) noted for their loud tunes. Now the wave of celebration (big and little people)washed from the Kornplatz over the bridges into the alleyways and streets. We separated and followed one of the blue and purple spangled bands as they wandered from group to pub with impromtu concerts here and a glass of wine there or maybe a coffee with schnapps. Colorful costumes splashed the town and laughter exploded with music pounding the air, and we waited for Lucerne's signature Fritschi Parade to begin at 4 PM.
We left Sattel earlier, located east across Lake Lucern, with a short stop at Root, small village to park the car and take the train into the city center. It deposited us at the main Bahnhof, edging the lake on Bahnhofstrasse and into masses of decorated masketeers. Everywhere all of Lucerne, even pets and children, were concealed behind masks and even feathers, and they were all happy, contentedly hidden behind their elaborate disguises.
Exiting on Zentralstrasse, we strolled and gawked as bands of musicians danced and pranced their way from platz to cafe to bar, carefree and outlandish. As 4PM approached we, and most of Switzerland, lined the Zentralstrasse and awaited the Fritschi Parade to appear from across the Seebruke(Sea Bridge). Around us the population had turned into clowns, friendly, dancing, bouncing clowns. As floats and bands gathered nearer we noticed reoccuring themes of hideous alien full-head masks, brightly colored uniforms reminding one of jesters in the days of King Arthur and spaced in between the troops of guys on skis; lone strollers threw candy and fruit to the youngsters. Unprepared for satire we were amazed at the naughty display of Clinton and Monica and politically incorrect statements of foolish government. All pranced to the loud drum roll beat and everyone was your best friend. A lopsided train of cardboard, listing toward the crowd, stunned us until we were told it was a spoof on the Italian train deal with Switzerland.
We escaped to a restaurant next to the station and manuevered ourselves to the balcony and captured a table among more parade goers. Latin Bands,men dressed as women pushing baby carriages and then the Fritschi Wagon with Fritschi Father, his wife the Fritschene and the Fritschikind or child, joined by the nanny, jester and musicians who generously threw blood oranges to the happy crowd. Why masks?? Who wants to see their banker prancing down the street as a yellow and red plaid jester with his bell hat clanging and tap tapping his cane
to the drum beat. What a way to welcome Spring!!!
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