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Sechseläuten festivities on 19 April 2010 featured a ceremony to honour Switzerland’s first woman doctor, while Zurich’s Mayor and London guild members joined the High Lady for the main procession in the afternoon.
In the morning, the “Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster” held a special ceremony to honour Marie Heim-Vögtlin (1845–1916), the first woman doctor in Switzerland.
Marie Heim-Vögtlin passed her medical examinations at the University of Zurich in 1873 and received a doctorate of medicine in 1874. She opened a medical practice the same year.
She was a co-founder of the “Pflegerinnenschule”, the first independent training centre for nurses in Switzerland. She also worked to promote votes for women. She died in Zurich in 1916.
The society’s “Sechseläuten” procession in the afternoon was headed by the High Lady of the Fraumünster with her committee and guests.
The honourable guests for 2010 were Corinne Mauch, Mayor of the City of Zurich, Esther Hildebrand, President of the Zurich Cantonal Parliament, and Beatrice Jann, executive member of the Nidwalden Cantonal Government.
For the first time, guests from London, the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators», have been invited to the procession - but Eyjafjallajökull, was active during the Sechseläuten and anticipates the participation!
The procession included the Fraumünster ladies with their mediaeval robes, honorary guests from this year‘s guest canton, Nidwalden, the mediaeval ox cart recalling the society‘s mediaeval spectacle and the children’s group with their colourfully decorated ponies.
As had been the case since the year 2000, the society’s procession was a separate event which took place about shortly before the main “Sechseläuten” guild procession. It took the same route as the main procession, from Bürkliplatz to Stadthausquai, Bahnhofstrasse, Paradeplatz, Rudolf-Brun bridge, Limmatquai and through to Bellevue where the “Boogg”, or snowman“ was awaiting his fate. At the dot of six o’clock, the bonfire under the “Böögg” was lit, and all of Zürich waited with baited breath to see how long it would take before his head was blown off – the quicker he went, the better the summer… or so they say.
We at the “Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster” are already looking forward to next year’s Sechseläuten procession, when – on the invitation of the Constaffel Master and Zurich Guildmaster – we will be integrated in the main procession for the first time.
(more details -> here in German)
The procession includes the Fraumünster ladies with their mediaeval robes, the halberd-bearing GAUR group from Zug, our own ladies’ musical ensemble, invited groups and honorary guests from the guest canton, as well as a mediaeval ox cart recalling our mediaeval spectacle.
For further information about the official Sechseläuten procession, go to www.sechselaeuten.ch (in German).
© 2008 /
English H. Baumer
23.07.2010
