Chocolate cauldrons

The chocolateries are filled with chocolate cauldrons http://cqfd.epfl.ch/page60823.html marked with 1602 and filled with marzipan vegetables. It means the Escalade is here. I will be here for the Escalade, my favourite festival. The tradition is for the oldest and the youngest in the family to hold hands to break the cauldron and then everyone shares the chocolate and marzipan.

The cauldron is just a small part of the festivities. Escalade celebrates the 1602 routing of the French from the city. Vegetable soup stands and hot wine stands are throughout the old town which is peopled with people in period costumes.

Oh and the reason for cauldrons…that marks Mère Royaume pouring soup over the walls and scalding the French soldiers that were trying to climb into the city unnoticed.

http://europeforvisitors.com/switzaustria/articles/geneva_escalade.htm and http://www.andrews.edu/~smt/escalade.html