Alpine farming is collectively organised in many places, whether on the basis of jointly owned property or in the form of farming cooperatives. The summer grazing of livestock belonging to various owners always involves bringing the herds together at the start of the summer and then splitting them up at the end, at the same time as the Alpine produce is shared out. Over the centuries, rituals have developed in connection with both transitions, from private to collective then back again, and these rituals have become traditions in certain places that are still practised to this day. Chästeilet (sharing out the cheese) and Schafscheid (dividing the herds of sheep) are examples of these moments of transition in the Alpine and agricultural calendar. Methods of farming have changed drastically since the first half of the 20th century and in many places there are precious few reminders of the time before these changes. However, in some places the rituals have survived as traditions, partly because they have assumed an importance for the local farming community or for tourists that goes beyond their specific purpose in the Alpine economy. Among the best-known traditions of this type are the ‘Chästeilet Justistal’ in the commune of Sigriswil (Canton Bern) and the ‘Schafscheid Riffenmatt’ in the commune of Guggisberg (Canton Bern).
Chästeilet in the Justistal (from Heinrich Brockmann-Jerosch: Schweizer Volksleben, Band II, 1931)
Schafscheid in Riffenmatt (from Heinrich Brockmann-Jerosch: Schweizer Volksleben, Band II, 1931)
Schafscheid Riffenmatt: there are still enough sheep to make an impressive picture © Naturpark Gantrisch
Schafscheid Riffenmatt © Naturpark Gantrisch
Schafscheid Riffenmatt © Naturpark Gantrisch
Schafscheid Riffenmatt: The sheep arrive at the festival venue © Naturpark Gantrisch
Käseteilet Justistal, shares of cheese with an extra piece of Ziger cheese (before 1930)
The herds return from the Alpine pastures to the Justistaler Chästeilet (2017) © Alpgenossenschaft Justistal/Therese Krähenbühl
Handing out the cheese at the Justistaler Chästeilet (2016) © Alpgenossenschaft Justistal/Therese Krähenbühl
Under the watchful eyes of the cooperative members, Senn Beat Santschi divides up their portions of cheese (2017) © Alpgenossenschaft Justistal/Therese Krähenbühl
View of the Justistaler Chästeilet (2017) © Alpgenossenschaft Justistal/Therese Krähenbühl
Detailed description
Teilen und Verteilen in Alpgenossenschaften (PDF, 417 kB, 29.05.2018)Ausführliche Beschreibung
Category
Oral expressions
Knowledge concerning nature
Canton
Video
Connected traditions
Publications
Atlas der schweizerischen Volkskunde. Basel, 1950-1995
Emanuel Friedli: Bärndütsch als Spiegel bernischen Volkstums, Band 3: Guggisberg. Bern, 1911
Therese Krähenbühl: Wie im Justistal seit 300 Jahren auf neun Alpen gekäst und geteilt wird. In: Berner Zeitung, 20.9.2012
Therese und Samuel Krähenbühl: Das Justistal und seine Alpen (www.rothorn-schwanden.ch/images/Ausflugsziele/chaesteilet.pdf, 9.9.2017)
Gottlieb Jakob Kuhn: Versuch einer ökonomisch-topographischen Beschreibung der Gemeinde Sigriswil. In: Alpina, Band III. Winterthur, 1808, p. 116-169
Christian Pfister: Im Strom der Modernisierung. Bevölkerung, Wirtschaft und Umwelt, 1700-1914. Geschichte des Kantons Bern seit 1798. Bern, 1995
Adolf Schaer-Ris: 1347-1947. Sechshundert Jahre Sigriswil. Sigriswil, 1943
Adolf Schaer-Ris: Sigriswil. Berner Heimatbücher 63. Bern, 1979 (2. Auflage)
Schafscheid in Riffenmatt. In: Die Berner Woche, 32 (1942)
Arthur Schärli: Höhepunkt des schweizerischen Tourismus in der Zeit der «Belle Epoque» unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Berner Oberlandes: kulturgeschichtliche Regionalstudie. Bern, 1984
Richard Weiss: Das Alpwesen Graubündens: Wirtschaft, Sachkultur, Recht, Älplerarbeit und Älplerleben. Chur, 1992
Keywords
Summer
Contact
Vereinigte Alpgenossenschaften Justistal
Grönstrasse 39
3655
Sigriswil
Gemeinde Guggisberg, Gemeindeverwaltung Organisation Markt
Dorf 67
3158
Guggisberg