Next weekend, Zurich celebrates one of its oldest and most difficult-to-explain events to those who don't know it: the Knabenschiessen.
Since 1559, young people between the ages of 12 and 25 have gathered at the Albisgütli shooting range for a carbine shooting competition at 300 meters. The best result of the day wins the title of Schützenkönig or Schützenkönigin of the year. Since 1991, girls can also participate, and have won in several editions. The name stayed the same.
This year is September 11th, 12th and 13th. Around the shooting contest there is a traditional fair, the Chilbi, with stalls, attractions and the Magenbrot, those sweet spice breads that only appear on these dates. In Zurich, the smell of Magenbrot is basically the smell of September.
If you've been in Switzerland for a while and have never been to the Knabenschiessen, it's hard to describe. It is not an event for tourists. It is one of those things that have been going on for centuries in the same place, with the same format, and that the city simply keeps doing because it has always done it. That it combines a shooting contest with a town fair and that it is one of the most anticipated events of the year in Zurich sums it up quite well.