Räbechilbi: Richterswil turnip lantern parade

Come to Richterswil on the banks of Lake Zurich this November 9 to see a true Swiss tradition! The small town will be lit up with thousands of candles and turnip lanterns, and come the evening, a line of turnip-lit floats and children with lanterns will parade through the old town streets.

The history of Räbechilbi

So why did people decide to start a parade of turnip lanterns? The answer, like with most things, is lost to time! But there are several theories, and it seems likely that they all have a little truth in them.

Some say that the festival has its origins in a peasant ritual of thanks for the harvesting of the last crops before the approaching winter. Turnips were a staple crop in the Middle Ages and incredibly important to see families through the winter. Women who lived remotely, up in the mountains, would walk into town for a thanksgiving service at the church. To navigate the poorly lit streets in the villages, they would carry a hollowed-out turnip as a lantern, which provided both light and warmth.

Other sources assume that this tradition is based on a procession to the island of Ufnau, which used to take place in honour of St. Adelrich, who once spread Christian culture throughout Switzerland before becoming a hermit on the island. It could also be a tradition in honour of St Martin. St Martin's Day is always the weekend following the procession, and in countries across Europe, it is celebrated as a festival of lights.

The Richterswil parade dates back to at least 1860, and while processions take place in villages across the region, the one at Richterswil is by far the biggest and most impressive.

Räbechilbi in Richterswil

From 3pm, the festivities start. Stalls line the streets in the old town centre, selling grilled sausages, raclette, drinks and other warming winter delicacies. There is a turnip sale on Wisshusplatz, where local school children sell their artistically carved turnips. From 4pm, the music starts on Wisshusplatz and Poststrasse, with brass bands and other traditional Swiss music.

As night falls, the candles are lit and the village centre becomes a fairytale backdrop. All the houses along the parade route will decorate and light their houses, ensuring a truly magical atmosphere throughout.

The turnip light parade begins at 6pm. Floats of all kinds of designs are wheeled through the streets, each one completely covered in turnip lanterns. Over 30 tonnes of turnips get used for this incredible sight!

Attending Räbechilbi Turnip Lantern Parade

The festival is completely funded by sales of Parade Badges. These are sold by school children and volunteers around town on the day of the parade, and you should have one if you want to watch the parade. They cost eight Swiss francs each.

The town is quite small, and so it is not recommended to drive in. It is simple to arrive by public transport. You can take the train or bus directly to Richterswil, and the parade route in the village centre is right next to the train station. Bear in mind that in 2024, there will be no through trains on the Zurich Wollishofen -Thalwil route due to construction work during the Räbechilbi weekend. Therefore, be sure to use alternative connections via Uster or the replacement buses offered between Wollishofen and Thalwil.

To find out more about this amazing Swiss tradition, check out the official Räbechilbi Richterswil website.