Brächete in Zäziwil, Emmental

From flax processing to living cultural heritage

In the past, flax was grown for self-sufficiency. After the fieldwork was done, the village community would gather in autumn for the traditional Brächete. Over time, the elaborate process of turning flax into usable material developed into a lively village festival. With the arrival of inexpensive imported cotton after the Second World War, locally produced flax gradually lost its importance. In Zäziwil, the tradition was revived in 1955 and has been carefully preserved ever since.

Today, you can experience the individual steps from the flax plant to linen fabric or rope up close. Other historic crafts are also demonstrated, including threshing, shingle making, wooden pipe boring and rope making. The Brächete is included on the Bernese List of Living Traditions, making it an important part of the Bern Region’s living cultural heritage.

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Brächete in Zäziwil, Emmental, Destination Bern — © Brächete Zäziwil

70 years of living tradition

In 2026, the Brächete will take place for the 70th time. For Zäziwil, it is far more than just a village festival: young and old come together every year to keep this living tradition alive. To mark the anniversary, you can look forward to a special exhibition as well as the commemorative publication “From Flax to Cloth: A Living Tradition in Zäziwil”.

The importance of the Brächete to the village is also reflected in a special distinction: Zäziwil was named “Village of the Year” in 2023, winning the title against seven other finalists with its traditional village festival.

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Over 90 market stalls in the village centre

From 9 am to 5:30 pm, the centre of Zäziwil turns into a lively market. More than 90 stalls offer regional specialities, traditional goods and handcrafted products. Various food stands, restaurants and the festival tent provide plenty of options for a bite to eat.

From 8 pm, the celebrations continue in the festival tent with a bar, food and a disco in a convivial atmosphere.

zaeziwil.ch

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