The special first day of March

Chalandamarz is traced back to the Roman calendar, with “Chalanda” meaning “the first day of the month” and “Marz” meaning the month of March. At one time, the municipal council was sworn in on this day while the evil spirits of winter were chased out. The young men would roam through the village shaking their cowbells and afterwards would eat together and dance with the maidens of marriageable age. Today, Chalandamarz is a festival for everybody: boys, girls, parents and visitors.

Shaking bells, tuneful songs.

In the Chalandamarz procession, everyone has a specific role and traditional costume: the small children with the small bells are the calves. The boys and girls with the large, deep-sounding bells, the “Plumpas”, are the cows. In Sils, they all wear the typical blue farmer's smock and a red cap. The three oldest children in the procession, the “Senn”, the “Zusenn” and the “Hirt” shepherd the wild herd of children. They also conduct the songs. The money and food given to the children are transported on a decorated float.

A custom known all over the world.

People from all over the world have heard of the story of “Schellen-Ursli” (A Bell for Ursli), whether from the film by Xavier Koller (produced in 2015), or the children's book by Alois Carigiet and Selina Chönz (published in 1945). A small boy called Uorsin (Ursli) does not want to wear the small bell at Chalandamarz, but wants a really big bell instead. He heads up to the mountain hut in the snow to fetch it – and, in the end, is allowed to lead the Chalandamarz full of pride. As an illustrated book, the ancient Graubünden custom has become known as far away as China and Japan.

Chalandamarz for beginners

• The biggest bell
  The goal of every child is to wear the biggest bell. The children and teenagers representing the ‟Kühen”, or cows, buy their own bells.
• Engadin festival costume
  The six oldest girls in the school, the “Patrunas” are allowed to wear the most elaborate Engadin festival costumes.
• Dancing until midnight
  At the “Ballin”, the traditional ball, children and teenagers dance until midnight.