''Berchtoldstag'' (also ''Bechtelistag, Bächtelistag, Berchtelistag, Bärzelistag,'' in Liechtenstein ''Bechtelstag, Bechtle'') is an

Alemannic Alemannic (''Alamannic'') or Alamanni may refer to: * Alemannic German, a dialect family in the Upper German branch of the German languages and its speakers * Alemanni, a confederation of Suebian Germanic tribes in the Roman period * Alamanni (surna ...

holiday, known in Switzerland and

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarch ...

. It is near New Year's Day, during the Rauhnächte, in Switzerland nearly always on 2 January (in Frauenfeld on the third Monday in January), with the status of a public holiday in a number of

cantons A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared with other administrative divisions such as counties, departments, or provinces. Internationally, t ...

(AG, BE, FR, GL, JU, LU, NE, OW, SH, SO, TG, VD, ZG, ZH). Its observation is attested since the 14th century, although celebrations were limited after the

Protestant Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and ...

. Various

theories A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research. Theories may be ...

exist concerning the holiday's name.

Blessed Berchtold Berchtold of Engelberg, German ''Berchtold von Engelberg'' (died 3 November 1197) was a Swiss German Benedictine monk, who was Abbot of Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland.The handbook of medieval library history - Karl Christ, Anton Kern, Theophil M. O ...

Engelberg Abbey Engelberg Abbey (german: Kloster Engelberg) is a Benedictine monastery in Engelberg, Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland. It was formerly in the Diocese of Constance, but is now in the Diocese of Chur. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels and ...

died circa 2 November 1197, and the abbey could have been important enough to translate his feast out of advent. According to others, it celebrates a hunting trip circa 1191 by Duke

Berchtold V of Zähringen Berchtold (also Berthold, Bertold, Bertolt) is a Germanic name, from the Old High German ''beruht'' "bright" or "brightly" and ''waltan'' "rule over". The name comes into fashion in the German High Middle Ages, from about the 11th century. The cogn ...

, who decided to name his new city after the first animal he killed on that trip, hence

Bern, Switzerland german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

. Another theory associates the name with the verb 'berchten', which means "to walk around, asking for food". The name may also relate to Perchta, mythological or

folkloric Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging fro ...

female guardian of animals, and sometimes leader of the

Wild Hunt The Wild Hunt is a folklore motif (Motif E501 in Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature) that occurs in the folklore of various northern European cultures. Wild Hunts typically involve a chase led by a mythological figure escorted by ...

, since Twelfth Night traditions even in the Spanish Pyrenees can feature visits from a transformed human/animal. The most likely explanation is offered by the ''

Schweizerisches Idiotikon ''Schweizerisches Idiotikon'' ("the Swiss idioticon", also known as ''Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache'' "Dictionary of the Swiss German language") is an ongoing, major project of lexicography of the Swiss German dialects. Publication beg ...

'' that considers it derived from

Middle High German Middle High German (MHG; german: Mittelhochdeutsch (Mhd.)) is the term for the form of German spoken in the High Middle Ages. It is conventionally dated between 1050 and 1350, developing from Old High German and into Early New High German. Hig ...

''berhttac'' or ''berhteltac,'' which translated the Greek ''

epiphanias "Epiphanias" (German title: "Epiphaniasfest") is a Christmas-themed poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832). The title is the German word for the Christian feast of Epiphany Epiphany may refer to: * Epiphany (feeling), an experience of su ...

''. Indeed, Berchtoldstag especially occurs in

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

regions where

Epiphany Epiphany may refer to: * Epiphany (feeling), an experience of sudden and striking insight Religion * Epiphany (holiday), a Christian holiday celebrating the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ ** Epiphany season, or Epiph ...

has been abolished and replaced by a second day-off after New Year's Day. In the German-speaking cantons of Zurich and Thurgau as well as some parts of Central Switzerland, families celebrate the holiday with meals at pubs or offered by traditional societies. The Argovian village of

Hallwil Hallwil is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The Castle of Hallwyl is located in the neighboring municipality Seengen. History Hallwil is first mentioned in 1167 as ''de Allewilare''. Between ...

holds a mask parade with entries symbolizing fertility, age, ugliness, wisdom, vice, etc. In the French-speaking

Vaud Vaud ( ; french: (Canton de) Vaud, ; german: (Kanton) Waadt, or ), more formally the canton of Vaud, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of ten districts and its capital city is Lausanne. Its coat of arms b ...

, children celebrate Berchtoldstag with neighborhood parties which include folk dancing and singing. Nuts are associated with this holiday. They are both eaten in a "nut feast" and used for games. Children build "hocks" of four nuts close together on the ground with a fifth nut balanced on top.Henderson, Helene, and Thompson, Sue Ellen, ed. "Berchtoldstag." Holidays, Festivals and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. Vol. 2. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1997.

References

January observances Swiss culture Swiss folklore National holidays Public holidays in Switzerland Winter events in Switzerland {{Switzerland-stub

See also

References