"Christmas time is a good time to come to Rheinfelden"

"The dim light in the church literally draws you in," says Franco Mazzi, describing a very special moment for him in connection with the Christmas season.

Since the year 2000, when one of his daughters was still very young and the other not yet born, he has been getting restless on Christmas Eve from 9 p.m. onwards, perhaps taking another quick look at the lyrics, putting on his special clothes and making his way to the meeting point shortly after 9.30 p.m. with eleven other brothers from the traditional Rheinfelden Sebastiani Brotherhood.

The Sebastiani Brotherhood has existed in Rheinfelden since 1541, when it was founded during a severe plague epidemic. At that time, twelve men joined together to care for the sick, bury the dead and pray for protection with their songs. To this day, the brothers parade through Rheinfelden on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve to ask St. Sebastian for protection against the plague.

So on Christmas Eve, Franco Mazzi leaves the warmth of the parlor and walks through the streets with the brotherhood to sing the praises of six different fountains. The last fountain sung about is the one in front of St. Martin's Church, from where the brotherhood attends midnight mass in the church. "When I get home shortly after half past one, the Christmas tree lights are no longer lit and the family is asleep."

The twelve men dressed in black also parade through the dark alleyways on New Year's Eve, maintaining the centuries-old custom.

"Traditions and customs are very important, especially at a time when we have the feeling that many things are becoming increasingly turbulent," Franco Mazzi is convinced.

It all starts with the Christmas sparkle

Franco Mazzi not only appreciates the traditional carol singing, but the Christmas season in general. He talks about the Christmas sparkle, which kicks off the most wonderful time of the year in Rheinfelden on the Friday evening before the first Advent. The moment when the Christmas lights light up the town and many activities take place. "Many wonderful, atmospheric concerts that bring us closer to Christmas" are just one example of this.

Franco Mazzi also mentions the beautiful magic of the lights that attracts people from near and far to the town. "Christmas time is a good time to come to Rheinfelden," he says.

New Year's Eve is also a very special day for Franco Mazzi, as he has been on the road with the Sebastiani Brotherhood for 25 years. After the fountain singing, the organ concert takes place in St. Martin's Church. This is followed by the "special program" for the mayor, during which he meets with the mayor of Badisch Rheinfelden on the bridge at midnight.

"We listen to the bells and wish each other a Happy New Year. The fireworks then follow shortly after midnight," says Franco Mazzi.

We keep coming back to traditions and customs, which play a particularly important role at the moment. "People need things that 'have always been like this', that they can hold on to, that structure the year and give it a framework."

Many things will remain

Although Franco Mazzi will no longer have any official duties from next year, he will continue many Christmas traditions. "I'll still be happy to attend the Christmas sparkle and enjoy a Christmas beer brought to the town by the Feldschlösschen horses," he smiles. He will also be happy to maintain the tradition of toasting the New Year on the Rheinfeld Rhine Bridge in the future.

"Many activities will remain the same, just a little more relaxed."

Likewise the fountain singing with the Sebastiani Brotherhood. After discussing it with his wife, he said yes to it 25 years ago and it will stay with him for the rest of his life. "My wife agreed at the time because she knew that fountain singing was something very precious to me."

Janine Tschopp is a freelance journalist. She writes regularly for the Neue Fricktaler Zeitung, the cultural magazine "2x Rheinfelden" and the Rheinfelden Christmas magazine, among others.