Today, during our House Meeting we celebrated one of the most important traditions in Geneva: La nuit de l’Escalade. The legend says that on the night of December 11th, the Savoyard troops tried to conquer Geneva and launched an attack on a cold night in December. Thanks to Catherine Cheynel, also known as Mère Royaume, who thought of emptying a large marmite of boiling soup on a group of attackers the whole city woke up and defended Geneva against the Savoyards.

On this day, it is tradition to break the marmite, a chocolate cauldron filled with marzipan vegetables.

Tradition says the older and the youngest of the house have to break the marmite together while reciting the iconic phrase: Ainsi périrent les ennemis de la République !

This was Ada’s first time smashing the iconic marmite and Kseniia’s second time. All together we celebrated the victory of the Genevans.

Bonne nuit de l’Escalade à tout le monde !