Hom Strom Festival: A Swiss Tradition Compared to Zurich’s Sechseläuten

Scuol, Switzerland – The village of Scuol in the Swiss Engadine valley held its annual “Hom Strom” celebration on Saturday, February 7th, 2026, a tradition rooted in ancient beliefs and marking a hopeful forecast for the coming summer. The event, involving the construction and burning of a large straw figure, draws both locals and visitors, and shares thematic similarities with the better-known Sechseläuten festival in Zurich.

The Hom Strom, also known as a straw man, is a longstanding custom performed by the schoolchildren of Scuol on the first Saturday of February, according to local sources. Preparations began in the afternoon, with villagers gathering to bind the straw into the figure, known as the “Hom Strom,” on the village square, or “Plaz.” Attendees enjoyed coffee and cake during the construction process.

The origins of the Hom Strom are believed to lie in ancient agricultural practices, specifically as an offering to the sun god by local farmers, hoping for a bountiful harvest. Experts suggest the tradition represents a blend of pagan and Christian beliefs. Robin Schwarzenbach, a journalist with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, recently observed the event as part of a series exploring Swiss traditions, noting the importance of “Pachific” – a local term for a relaxed and unhurried pace of life – in the region.

As evening approached, the Hom Strom was transported to Gurlaina, where the Giuventüna Scuol, a local youth organization, provided punch and mulled wine. The culmination of the event involved a “fire spectacle” with illuminated spheres, followed by the burning of the Hom Strom itself at 8:00 PM. Participants traditionally sing the song “L’Hom Strom es ün bel hom” during the burning.

Schwarzenbach’s reporting highlights a contrast between the Scuol tradition and the influx of tourists, particularly those seeking a swift-paced escape, potentially disrupting the village’s characteristic tranquility. The Hom Strom, in contrast, embodies a slower, more deliberate rhythm.

The Hom Strom, like Zurich’s Sechseläuten, is seen as a harbinger of the coming summer season. Although Sechseläuten involves the burning of a snowman effigy, both events share the symbolic act of burning a figure to usher in warmer weather and a successful year. The NZZ article refers to the Hom Strom as “the other Sechseläuten.”