Cancelled - Saint-Antoine

Rougemont - Culture et patrimoine

Formerly a secular tradition, the Fête de la Saint-Antoine will liven up Rougemont during the middle of January.

The village of Rougemont will be once again be celebrating Saint-Antoine. This is a secular tradition that had been somewhat forgotten and which the municipality decided to relaunch in 2014 in collaboration with “Pays-d’Enhaut Region”. “We noticed that this holiday was meeting a need. Residents from all over Pays-d’Enhaut join in, as do secondary residents. It’s a great opportunity to get together and build relationships”, says Sonia Lang, the local councillor in charge of tourism. Rougemont lies in the shadow of Mount Rübli during the months of November and December, precisely during the shortest days of the year. It is during the Saint-Antoine, January the 17th, that the sun once again shines on the village, specifically on the steps of the Hôtel de Commune at the stroke of noon. An event that has been a reason for celebration for several centuries.

Each year on the 17th of January, the farmers from the area arrived in Rougemont in large numbers. They came to pay their taxes and the rent for their animals, their land and their chalets in the town. The peasants would use the opportunity to take stock of the past season. It was also around that time that alpine staff were hired, they were commonly known as “bouèbes”.

Every six years, the leases for rented alpine chalets are signed on January 17th at the Fête de la St-Antoine.

Next year, the event will take place on January 16th, the Saturday closest to Saint-Antoine Day.