The old dialect words 'greifflen' or 'gräufflen' refer to the performance of farces by costumed and masked figures. Accordingly, the central component of the Greiflet, a custom observed on the Feast of Epiphany in the inner parts of the canton of Schwyz only, is a theatrical, satirical dialogue. Two speakers perform before an audience gathered in the evening on the main square or in a restaurant. Their show, known as the «Plöder», consists of verses which take a satirical look at events of the past year, and contains no shortage of sharp-tongued, amusing and even malicious commentary on local events and personalities. Another key feature of the Greiflet is the loud but leisurely procession of the Trychler (cowbell ringers) and Geisselchlepfer (whip-crackers). Up to a hundred or more participants make their way through the villages, creating a deafening, ear-splitting noise as they go. Noise-making processions have been part of the Greiflet tradition since the 16th century, although in those days they were held by local young men's associations. The «Schwyzer Greifler,» founded in the canton's capital, Schwyz, in 1917, was the first association set up to organise the event. Schwyz was also the site of the inaugural «Priis-Chlepfä» (a contest between the best whip-crackers in the canton), which has since become an established part of the Greiflet tradition.
Detailed description
Greiflet (PDF, 395 kB, 28.06.2024)Ausführliche Beschreibung
Category
Canton
Publications
Brigitte Geiser: Das Geisselklepfen in der Schweiz (Schwyzer Hefte 10/11). Ed. Kulturkommission des Kantons Schwyz. Schwyz, 1977
Gitta Gsell: Bödälä. Dance the Rhythm. Ed. Reck Filmproduktion. Zürich, 2010 (DVD)
Hans Steinegger: Greiflet. In: Feste und Bräuche im Kanton Schwyz. Hans Steinegger, Josef Wiget. Schwyz, 1989, p. 212-219
Josias Clavadetscher: Triichle und Chlepfe. Vom Greiflen, Einschellen und Trychlen. Schwyz, 2017
Elias Bricker: Sie vertreiben Geister und arme Seelen. In: Neue Urner Zeitung, 7. Januar 2016, p. 19
Andrea Schelbert: Greifler löste Polizeialarm aus. In: Neue Schwyzer Zeitung, 25. Januar 2013, p. 23
Josias Clavadetscher: Triichle und Chlepfe: Vom Greif-len, Einschellen und Trychlen. Schwyz, 2017
Keywords
Winter
Contact
Greiflergruppe Illgau
Greiflerverein Goldau
Greiflerverein Lauerz
Greiflervereinigung Ingenbohl-Brunnen
Greiflervereinigung Ingenbohl-Brunnen
Priis-Chlepfä, Schwyz
www.priis-chlepfe.ch
Greiflervereinigung Steinen
Armin
Marty
Steinen
Schwyzer Greifler
Urs
Büeler
Seewen