Sow, Roar, Celebrate. Living traditions today

Can the Töfftreff in Trimbach near Olten be considered a tradition? Few would doubt this when it comes to the famous Meitlisonntig in Fahrwangen and Meisterschwanden. Surveys conducted against the backdrop of the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage have brought such questions to the forefront in Switzerland. The cantons of Aargau and Solothurn have collected over 500 references to customs and other traditions in a joint project. This book presents 17 such traditions that exemplify the broad field of intangible cultural heritage. These include well-known events such as the Fasnachtsfeuer in Wittnau, the Eierläset in Effingen, or the pilgrimage to Mariastein, as well as the bathing culture in Aargau and the Bally heritage in Schönenwerd and its preservation. Together, they create a vibrant picture of the everyday culture of the two cantons, documented with photographs by Oliver Lang and Philipp Künzli.