The Tschäggättä appear during Fasnacht, a time of celebration and merriment that takes place every year from Candlemas until “Gigiszischtag” (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). While most carnival figures are cheerful and colorful, the Tschäggättä carry with them an aura of mystery and eeriness. With their hand-carved wooden masks made of Swiss stone pine, with grotesque faces, they embody the dark secrets of winter and the age-old tradition of driving away evil spirits.
For the inhabitants of the Lötschental, the Tschäggättä are more than just figures in an old tradition. They are a symbol of their attachment to their homeland and their pride in their history and culture. They remind people that their roots run deep and that the heritage of their ancestors is still relevant today. And while the world around them is changing, the Tschäggättä remain firmly rooted in the heart of the Lötschental, ready to drive away the spirits of winter and spread the joy of carnival. They run wild through the village streets on the hunt for women and children, rubbing their icy gloves across the faces of their catch.
Texutal sources: loettschental.ch
