La Fête de l’Escalade or simply l’Escalade is a festival that celebrates the day in 1602 that the Genèvois defended their city against the Savoyards.
In the dead of night on the 11th of December 1602, a group of Savoyard commandos attempted to scale the town walls in order to open the main portcullis and allow their larger force of 1,000 soldiers in and conquer Geneva. However – according to legend – a woman now fondly called Mère Royaume was awake and noticed them.
She tossed the marmite (or cauldron) of soup she had been making on top of the Savoyards, which was instumental in the waking the town up and bringing them to the defense of their city.
In her honor, on this day every year, the youngest and eldest in the house come together and smash a chocolate marmite filled with marzipan vegetables and candy wrapped in the colors of the flag of Geneva.
The Boys with our Marmite.
…they really followed through…
First Come First Serve.
