Brandons de Payerne

The Brandons of Payerne http://www.brandonspayerne.ch/ is another word for carnival. I went out to spend the day with Florian and his family and to stand and watch the cortege (parade) with the chars (floats). All the floats are made by local groups such as the gymnastic club and in past years they have been imaginative with themes from good citizenship, political satires, movies, cowboys and Indians, in fact just about any theme is possible. Much love goes into this enterprise, which is not commercial, although some of the stands along the cortege route selling chestnuts, balloons, sausages, sweets, and confetti are.

However, because of the snow, the floats could not roll safely. Only the bands marched. It is a tradition for some of the bands to play off key. Many are costumed as are the children who decide what they will wear as carefully as American kids plan Halloween.

Although the snow had stopped and the sun was in a rare blue sky, the offering was on the disappointing side. As I left I saw the confetti had melted into the snow creating a rainbow around our feet.