In early days when the Duke of Zaringen lived in the castle and ruled the land he ordered the court jester to wake him and his men early to go to a battle, but the jester slept in and made them late in setting off. The Duke was so angry that he chased the jester out of the castle calling him a lazy dog -"Fuhlehung".Now days an unknown person dressed as the Fuhlehung appears every year at The "Ausschiesset" (Shoot-out) Festival in September. The Shoot-out Festival is where the town cadets have a crossbow shooting competition. This festival stops the town for 3 days while the people celebrate in many ways. There are processions, dinners and much partying but for the children the appearance of Fuhlehung is one of the highlights. They chase him through the streets calling him a lazy dog-Fuhlehung. He carries a stick and inflated pigs bladders and he (pretends to) whop the children if they catch him or do anything naughty. This practice can be traced back to the 15th century.
I have been lucky enough to have witnessed the festival a few times. I was woken at 4:00 am to the chant of hundreds of children calling "Fuhlehung,Fuhlehung, hung, hung," as they searched the streets looking for him. Then later in the day there is the procession to the Shoot-out competition. One of the Fuhlehung's jobs is to keep the crowds quiet while the cadets shoot.
Children chasing Fuhlehung calling him lazy dog.
He carries a baton and inflated pigs bladders to punish naughty people.
No one knows who is behind the mask.
Keeping the crowds quiet.
Posing with the cadet crossbow shooters.
Look out here he comes
Fuhlehung with inflated pigs bladders. He can often be found hanging out of a first floor shop window throwing sweets down to all the children hunting for him.
