Märlisunntig enchanted its audience, despite the rain

29 fairy tale rooms in Zug's old town opened their doors to young and old at the annual Zug Märlisunntig. St. Michael's Church was also transformed into a fairy tale stage for the first time.
 

On the second Sunday of Advent, festive fanfares rang out from the Zug Zytturm (clock tower) in the afternoon, officially opening the 42nd Zug Märlisunntig (Zug Fairy Tale Sunday). Various fairy tale characters mingled with the visitors who sought refuge from the pouring rain in the ‘Märchenstuben’ (fairy tale rooms) in Zug's historic old town. They could not only warm up there, but could also listen to the vividly told fairy tales.

"The fairy tale parlours weren't as fully booked as usual because of the constant rain. But that had the advantage that people were more likely to find a seat," says Nicolett Theiler, president of the Märlisunntig organisation committee. She was very pleased with how this year's event went, despite the rainy weather.

Stories in the organ loft
The 29 fairy tale stations were spread throughout the old town, and offered something for every taste and age group. From the "Kasperli Theatre" (a traditional Swiss puppet show) to St. Nicholas and Christmas stories and classics like "Frau Holle" (Mother Winter), everything was included. There was even a "fairy tale for grown-ups" in the ‘Musig-Stube zur Meise’ (Music Room at the Meise) for the adults among the fairy tale fans.

In some of the fairytale rooms, the stories were not only read aloud, but were also performed as theatre or accompanied by music. This was also the case with the fairy tale "Chaos in the Kingdom of Organum" on the gallery of St. Michael's Church, which was serving as a fairy tale stage for the first time this year. The organ's structure with its many pipes was cleverly woven into the narrative, and was impressively demonstrated to the audience.

"This idea came from the Catholic Church. We’re always open to such suggestions, and try to incorporate them into the programme," said Nicolett Theiler. Music also filled the Stadtbibliothek (city library), where the Stadtmusik Zug provided musical accompaniment for the fairy tale " König Drosselbart” (King Thrushbeard). After the performance, many families lingered in the library and browsed the books.
 

Keeping their balance – the little ones loved it. The Landsgemeindeplatz was also part of the Märlisunntig.
Fairy tales were listened to in the cosy parlour    
Dressed appropriately for the weather, people take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Zug.
Stories of stars and the moon: the Liebfrauenkapelle was also a place for stories
The Märlisunntig also has a touch of a fair.
Saint Nocholas (Samichlaus) – an indispensable part of the Märlisunntig (Fairytale Sunday) celebrations  
Photos: Boris Bürgisser
 

A colourful programme on the streets
As children strolled through the old town from one fairytale scene to the next, they also experienced organ grinders, balloon and fire artists, as well as Samichlaus and his ‘Schmutzlis’. The carriage rides, the face painting booth, the children's train, the bazaar on the Landsgemeindeplatz and a carousel were also part of the festivities. Zug's historic old town was closed to cars all afternoon.

The fairytale magic came to a festive close with a parade featuring ‘Trychler’ (bell ringers), ‘Geisselchlöpfer’ (whip crackers) and around 200 costumed fairytale characters. "Märlin," the Märlisunntig mascot, was also present. A small fireworks display for the children provided a fitting finale on the Landsgemeindeplatz.

An important event in these hectic times
Admission to the Zug Märlisunntig was free, but donations were welcome at the information booth. You could purchase a button or contribute to the collection after a performance. This was all only possible thanks to the volunteer work of the sponsoring association and the numerous helpers who are on duty before and during the Märlisunntig.

For Nicolett Theiler, the many hours she dedicates to the event were well worth it. She receives a lot of positive feedback every year, and many people expressed their gratitude. "Even when I used to attend Märlisunntig with my own children, I was fascinated. In today's fast-paced world with social media, I find storytelling all the more valuable."