Sechseläuten is a traditional spring holiday in Zurich, Switzerland, celebrated on the third Monday of April. Its main attraction is the burning of the Böögg, a large snowman made of wadding and filled with firecrackers. The event is celebrated by a parade of the guilds and the burning of winter in effigy, in the form of the Böögg, at 6 PM.
The holiday originates from the medieval times when the length of the working day was regulated by the amount of daylight. The end of the working day was determined by the ringing of the bells at 6 PM. As days became longer during spring, work schedules were adjusted and this transition was marked with a festival; thus Sechseläuten, literally translates to 'The six-o'clock ringing of the bells'.
Sechseläuten is widely celebrated across the Canton of Zurich. Traditionally, after the Böögg's head explodes, if it does it quickly, summer will supposedly be warm; if it takes a long time, summer will be cold and rainy. Obviously, this is more folklore than meteorology. The parade is made up of different guilds in the region, showcasing historical dress and costumes, and it concludes with a mounted procession of representatives of the guilds.