A very special soup from Geneva

the chocolate pot of Geneva

In Geneva, a special soup is made every year to celebrate "L'escalade". In 1536 Geneva became protestant and got rid of catholic bishop-princes who had ruled this city since the 12th century. Later on, the Duke of Savoy (France), who controlled most of the region around Geneva, had other plans and wanted to make it the catholic capital north of the Alps.

On the night of December 11, 1602, the Duke sent men to assault the city walls with ladders (l' escalade). However, the city's entire population woke up to fight the invaders. One housewife boiled a big pot of hot soup to be thrown down at the climbing soldiers who ran off either burned or scared. Only 18 genevoises died - and every year a "soldier parade" takes place in their honour with costumes and weapons "à l'époque" to flood the Old Town and costumed children go door to door singing "Cé qu'è laîno," Geneva's victory song.

Also, the traditional soup is once again made (boiled meat with vegetables) and given for free to the city inhabitants and cauldrons made of chocolate filled with marzipan figures are eaten at each home by the families.
We heard about this tradition from one of my colleagues living in Geneva who actually brought a huge soup pot last month for everybody in the lab. Next year we'll try to see it live!