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Traditional Costumes

Waggis

Basel Fasnacht - Waggis

Caricature of an Alsatian farmer

The roots of this figure can be traced back to Alsation farmers from the 1900s. Back then the farmers were seen as vagabonds. The expression ‘Waggis’ might well have come from the word ‘vagabond’.


Costume

The costume in its traditional form is very similar to that of the clothing worn by farmers who would have come to Basel to sell their goods at the local market. The costume consisted of a blue a blouse, a pointed hat, white pants, clog shoes, a white collar, a bright red scarf and hand knitted socks.


Variations of the figure

The figure was strongly varied in the course of time. While the mask was originally borrowed from the Commedia dell'arte, it took on more and more grotesque forms. The nose and the wig became larger and larger. And the colours of the costume also moved away from those of the original costume. Today, the Waggis exists in numerous colour combinations.


Loud Appearance

Their somewhat coarse and grubby appearance and their loud appearance can be traced back to their roots as a farmer or a vagabond.


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