La Fête des Vendanges, a festival of irony

Neuchâtel's legendary Fête des Vendanges, a temple to local epicureanism, made a comeback after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. It has to be said that things weren't done half-heartedly, despite the inclement weather. A total of 350,000 people gathered to enjoy the festival, 50,000 more than the previous edition in 2019. And an all-time record that's not about to be broken. But there may be something more noteworthy...

The thing is, this harvest festival is also a celebration of irony: they say people drink absolutely everything there… except wine! And certainly not local wine, which is often disparaged by other French-speaking Swiss. It’s true that the festival-goers have a marked tendency toward compulsive consumption of beer, gin and tonic, or any other hard liquor within reach—already sweaty and sticky. Although exaggerated, this cliché is confirmed—at least in part—as you wander from booth to booth. Which, incidentally, is easier said than done, what with the onlookers jostling shoulder to shoulder, drinks being splashed about, and puddles of unidentified liquids—all hallmarks of festive folklore.

Write to the author: max.moeschler@leregardlibre.com

You've just read an open-access article. Debates, analysis, cultural news: subscribe to support us and get access to all our content!

Image: Photo taken during the 2022 event © Fête des Vendanges