The 197th Emaischen Fair took place in Luxembourg

Easter Monday in Luxembourg was marked by the traditional Emaischen market held in Fëschmaart Square. This year, the event celebrated its 197th anniversary, once again drawing thousands of residents and visitors to the capital. As is traditional, the centrepiece of the festival was the Péckvillercher — small clay whistles shaped like birds, which are avidly collected throughout the Grand Duchy.

The 22 market stalls showcased an exceptional variety of designs: from classic angular shapes to modern, brightly coloured birds in shades of orange, yellow and green. The process of creating each whistle requires great skill and time. Craftswoman Mara Ziegel, who had travelled to the fair from Hesse (Germany), explained that the work begins with modelling a solid prototype, which is then used to create a plaster mould. However, the most labour-intensive stage is the delicate hand finishing, painting and tuning of the sound, which is carried out by her husband.

The fair brought together both renowned craftsmen and local producers. Sellers note the steady loyalty of their customers: many collectors return every year to add at least one new bird to their collections. It is worth noting that for a number of participants, trading has a social dimension. For instance, Luc Schumacher stated that the proceeds from sales at his stand are directed towards supporting various charitable projects.