March 4, 2013

• <<... les Brandons étaient fêtés le premier dimanche de Carême uniquement dans le but de narguer les catholiques contraints à jeûner aux mêmes dates. Amenés par les Bernois, les Brandons seraient une des nombreuses expressions de l'opposition entre catholicisme et protestantisme dans une région où la proximité nécessitait un marquage net des frontières.>> (from http://www.brandons.ch)

  "Les Brandons" was celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent only to tease/irritate Catholics, who were obliged to fast.  Introduced by the Bernese, "les Brandons" is (would be) one of many expressions of the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism in a region where their close proximity necessitated the marking of clear boundaries.

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  Teasing fasting Catholics.

  Another explanation is that it's descended from an ancient pagan festival of Spring.  It is probably both.

   

   

   

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