Exploding snowman predicts poor summer

Böög - (c) Roland ZH - file photo

We’re in for a worse summer than last year – if an exploding snowman is anything to go by.


For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Zurich was able to hold its first spring festival in full – the highlight is the Böög. A papier-mâché snowman on top of a bonfire with a head full of firecrackers. 

Tradition states the longer it takes for the snowman’s head to explode after lighting the fire – the worse the summer will be. 

Yesterday evening it took a record breaking 37 minutes and 59 seconds. 

For reference, last year – which was a very wet summer – it took 13 minutes. 

This year’s lengthy wait is probably down to the fact it had ben raining and everything was wet. 

But if you want a hot summer – don’t despair. The Böög is actually more often wrong than right. 

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