Chienbäse is a yearly custom celebrated in the town of Liestal in Switzerland. It is a spectacular event that takes place on the Sunday before Basel’s Fasnacht Carnival. It is a dramatic show where big wooden torches and big chariots carrying bundles of wood are set ablaze. In its ancient tradition, people believed this ritual chases away the winter and the evil spirits. Today, the celebration is one of the main events that kick off Basel’s carnival season.
