An historic pot of soup

The Migros cooperatives stock local specialties from their respective regions. For example, Migros Geneva sells traditional chocolate cauldrons filled with marzipan vegetables for the Escalade festival, a celebration of the Geneva’s historic victory over Savoy.

It is the year 1602. During the night of 11/12 December, the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emanuel, attacks the town of Geneva. In the safety of darkness, one of his troops of soldiers manages to climb the town walls. But Mère Royaume, the wife of the coinmaster, upsets his plans. She pours a pot of boiling vegetable soup on the attackers and drives them away. Or so the legend claims. What is historically proven is that a fierce battle took place in the narrow streets and the inhabitants of Geneva managed to kill or capture the intruders. The unofficial anthem of the city, Cé qu’è lainô, praises the brave Mère Royaume:

On Savoyar, uprè de la Mounia,
Y fu tüa d'on gran cou de marmita
Qu'onna fenna li accouilla dessu;
I tomba mour, frai et rai eitandu.

A Savoyard, by the tower of La Monnaie,
received a hefty blow with a pot,
a woman threw it on to his head.
He fell down dead, as cold and stiff as a board.

Each year, the people of Geneva celebrate the victory over the Savoyards with the L'Escalade festival. And Migros sells the famous pot of soup at the festival – made of delicate chocolate and filled with marzipan vegetables.