Peace Bell commemorates the end of World War II

On the coming Friday, the 8^th of May, the city of Zug will commemorate the end of World War II. The Peace Bell will ring in the Capuchin Tower for the 81st time, from 8:00 to 8:15 pm.

Beforehand, residents are invited to an oecumenical prayer for peace in the St. Anna monastery church (Klosterkirche St. Anna) at 7:00 p.m. Following the ringing of the Peace Bell (Friedensglocke), the city council (Stadtrat) invites everyone to an aperitif in the monastery garden, as the city has announced in a recent press release.

The Peace Bell will ring in the Capuchin Tower on the 8th of May        Photo: supplied
 

The Peace Bell has a long tradition in Zug: after the end of the war in 1945, the former storm and fire bell was renamed on the initiative of Father Valentin Tönz. Since then, it has commemorated the end of the war every year on the 8th May, and, particularly with regard to the current situation, serves as a reminder of the importance of peace.

For thirty years, the Capuchin friars who were still active in the monastery maintained this custom until, in 1975, they could no longer continue this task due to their advanced age and delegated it to private individuals.

A living tradition
From 2005 on, the ringing of the Peace Bell has been accompanied by a programme of events organised by the Community of the Beatitudes (Gemeinschaft der Seligpreisungen), which has been active in the monastery since 2000.

More information about the tradition of the Freidensglocke (in German), including a video, can be found on:
https://www.stadtzug.ch/brauchtum/31