This traditional event is held either on the weekend of
Septuagesima or during
Easter. Depending on the region, these days have different names: Funkensonntag, Holepfannsunntag, Kassunnti (Käsesonntag), Küachlisunntig, Küechlesonntag Alti Fasnet. An exception is
Bernau im Schwarzwald, where there are up to eight bonfires in which the discs are lit throughout fasting week (except
Ash Wednesday). In the
Elztal valley and in adjacent valleys in the Black Forest the Scheibenschlagen traditionally takes place on
Laetare Sunday. Scheibenschlagen is usually organized by various local clubs,
scouts, Funkenzünften (for example traditional Alemannic carnival groups) or the
volunteer fire department. Locally, in the Alemannic language area it is organized by current
confirmands. In
Danis (Swiss canton Graubünden) the custom is called trer schibettas (
Rhaeto-Romanic for Scheibenschlagen). Here the Scheibenschlagen is usually organized by a so-called Jungmannschaft (a group of young people, similar to scouts). Boys in the 3rd grade and older and all bachelors in the town may participate in the trer schibettas. Whilst hitting the disk, the words " (name of a girl)" are said. Translated it means: Oh what a beautiful disk for ... (name of a girl). If a hit turns out badly the words "" are said. In
Untervaz (Swiss canton Graubünden) the event is only meant for bachelors, young boys and the fathers of young boys; there the word Schybaschlaha is used, which is the common dialect word for Scheibenschlagen. In
Alsace the custom is called Schieweschlawe; in some small towns of the Alsatian-Swiss Leymental valley it is also called Reedlischwinge (swinging wheels). The place where the bonfire is lit and the disks are hit is called Scheibenbühel (disk hill) or Scheibenfelsen (disk rock) in many towns.
Preparation Not only the Scheibenschlagen itself but also the collecting of wood for the bonfire, usually also done by the
army recruits or the
confirmands of the town, is accompanied by
rituals in certain regions: In the county of
Ortenau, for example in Rammersweier, participants walk through the town with a cart singing this song, asking for wood and wishing people luck: The event begins in the late afternoon, with the villagers meeting and having hot
beverages and pastries from their region. In the
Alemannic area, the event sometimes also begins with a traditional torchlight procession.
Scheibenschlagen Scheibenschlagen begins at dusk. After saying a few words, either as a greeting to the next participant or by reciting a short verse, each participant flings the disk into the darkness. In some regions the event is over when all households have thrown their discs and there are no more left. In
Mals,
Upper Vinschgau, on the same day a 12m long tree trunk called
Hex is put up with a cross-piece wrapped in straw. This cross is set up on a little hill outside the village and gets burned after sunset. After all discs are used up a torchlight procession to the village begins. Afterwards the boys go home to the girls and are served food and drinks until the early morning hours. In Danis,
Tavanasa, the youths come back to the village and do the same thing in small groups.
Verses for Scheibenschlagen Alemannic region: Oder: Translated: Disc, disc, the disc should fly, the disc should hit (name of the victim) in the face. Or: Disc, disc, for whom should that disc fly? The disc should fly for (name). If it does not it does not count.
County of Tyrol: Translated: Disc, disc, it is you I want to propel, lard in the pan, cake in the tub, plow in the mud, that the disc may fly far.
Mals,
Upper Vinschgau:
Schluderns,
Upper Vinschgau:
Breil/Brigels (
Graubünden): Translated: Oh what wonderful disc for (maiden name)! If the disc fails: ==Equipment==