How they celebrate the new year in switzerland Magic Christmas in Switzerland: Zurich. New Year Tours and New Years Celebration at Resorts in Switzerland
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We know Switzerland as the most prosperous European country, famous all over the world for its watches, chocolate and cheese. What Swiss New Year and Christmas traditions are you familiar with? How is Christmas and New Year celebrated in Switzerland? In this article, I will tell you a thing or two about it.
Switzerland is a unique country. Its official name is the Swiss Confederation. Switzerland has three official languages: German, French and Italian. The regions or districts of Switzerland are called cantons, all cantons have their own constitution and, of course, their own national traditions and customs, including those related to Christmas and New Year. Preparations for the celebration of Christmas begins on November 26 with the opening of Christmas markets throughout the country, where, until December 23-24, everyone can buy Christmas gifts, souvenirs, decorations, sweets, have fun and treat themselves to roasted chestnuts and something else delicious in numerous fairground cafes. Simultaneously with the opening of festive bazaars, the streets and squares of cities are transformed by colorful garlands, ornate Christmas trees, sparkling figures of fairy-tale characters and Christmas nativity scenes in shop windows and near numerous churches. In Switzerland, they do not skimp on holiday decorations for Christmas, for example, the main Christmas tree in Zurich is decorated with Swarovski crystals. But all this splendor, unfortunately, will not last until the New Year, immediately after Christmas, Switzerland will take off its festive dress and put on a daily business dress. But before Christmas, the Swiss and tourists alike fully enjoy the glittering winter fairy tale. The pre-Christmas time is a stressful time when it is necessary to prepare or buy gifts for all relatives, while not forgetting anyone, so that there are no offenses. By the way, the Swiss appreciate gifts made with their own hands, and gifts are made not only by children, but also by adults, these can be hand-knitted things, homemade cards and souvenirs and, of course, traditional Christmas cookies. Each canton has its own unique recipes for cookies, housewives diligently bake them in large quantities before the holiday and pack them in beautiful bags and boxes to present as a gift to family and friends. In this way, there is a kind of exchange of Christmas cookies between friends and relatives, and this tradition is unshakable. Even in Switzerland, the tradition of exchanging postcards with Christmas greetings is very widespread.
On December 6, Santa Claus brings sweet gifts to Swiss children, like everyone else in Europe, here he is called Samihlaus. Swiss Santa does not come to children alone, but with his constant companion named Schmutzl. Samihlaus is kind, he brings sweets, and Schmuzl comes with rods to punish the naughty pranksters. But, as a rule, Schmuzl is left without work, all children deserve only praise and gifts. In the Italian-speaking cantons, instead of Samihlaus, old woman Befana congratulates children, and where they speak French, old woman Shosh comes to the children with gifts. But on Christmas itself, which is celebrated in Switzerland on the night of December 24-25, the Infant Jesus Christkind secretly comes with gifts and rings a bell at the same time. Christmas bells are a must-have decoration on the Christmas tree in every home. Christmas is a family holiday: relatives gather at home at the festive table, treat themselves and exchange gifts. After the feast, everyone must attend church. Even those who do not visit it during the year go to church at Christmas. The Swiss Christmas menu is not particularly abundant, usually housewives prepare a variety of pates, puff pastries with meat and cheese, cheese or chocolate fondue; champagne on the Christmas table is a must. Christmas is such a homely, family holiday that it is very problematic to find a working restaurant or cafe on Christmas night. Swiss labor law is such that if Christmas falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the weekend is not carried over to work days and everyone goes to work on Monday. The Swiss are very hardworking, restrained and thrifty, probably, they would not have celebrated the New Year at all, if not for Sylvester's day, which falls on December 31st. Sylvester was the name of one of the popes, he accomplished a feat and saved the world from the monster Leviathan. In memory of this feat, this holiday is celebrated. Many in Switzerland identify these two holidays and call the New Year Sylvester. There is a tradition to arrange carnivals for New Year and Sylvester in fancy dress. The participants in these masquerades are called Sylvester Claus. In Switzerland, before and after the New Year, you can meet people dressed up in different masquerade costumes, often eating in a costume with bells. To meet such a mummer is good luck.
And in the Swiss canton of Appenzell-Outer, as well as in Russia on the night of January 13-14, there is a tradition to celebrate Old New - Old Sylvester. This holiday appeared after Switzerland switched to the Gregorian calendar. So we, Russians, have comrades-in-arms and colleagues regarding the celebration of the Old New Year. And that is great! We are not alone!
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!
The main thing to understand about Christmas holidays in Europe is that the main fun starts a couple of weeks before Christmas, and the massive sales happen a week later. On Christmas itself, there is nothing to do in Europe, unless, of course, you have relatives or friends there who are waiting for you for a festive dinner. Because December 25 and 26 are the days when only churches and hotels are open in Europe, so if you are planning a short vacation, it is better to arrive early. The fabulous time in Europe is not so much the Christmas night itself - it is the night for meeting relatives and friends, singing Christmas carols by the fireplace and other things that Europeans indulge in behind closed doors - but what precedes it.
On the pre-holiday weeks, Christmas markets work on the streets, squares are decorated with Christmas trees and balls, Let it snow and I'll be home for Cristmas sound in every department store, the Swiss buy cheese and chocolate on an industrial scale, and casual neighbors in cafes speak sternly into the telephone. : “But remember - we will not sing under the tree! We do not sing! " And the air smells like a miracle.
Geneva
Geneva celebrates Christmas modestly: the traditions of the Reformation and Comrade Calvin (not Klein) are making their mark. Therefore, it does not smell like gingerbread, and Jingle Bells does not annoy the ear in every store. It's worth heading to Geneva with your girlfriends to shop for some sweet things, pamper yourself with spa treatments in hotels or wellness centers, wander around the Christmas market at Carouge and eat a cheese themed dinner on a fondue cruise on Lake Geneva.
It is necessary to arrive already on December 11 in order to have time to eat chocolate with the townspeople at the main Geneva pre-Christmas event - the L'Escalade festival. It takes place in St. Peter's Square and throughout the rest of the city in memory of the night of December 11-12, 1602, when the troops of the Duke of Savoy stormed Geneva. Geneva fought back and gained independence. The main souvenir is a chocolate copy of Mama Royom's cauldron, in which she cooked onion soup. Leaving her many children hungry, Madame Roye poured the entire cauldron from the city wall onto the heads of the enemies. The screams that followed served as an alarm and saved the city from capture. Eat a couple of chocolate bowlers in memory of the determined woman! You will lose weight later, when you return and calculate how much money is left.
Wake up early on the morning of December 14 to head to the English garden to watch the city's oldest winter sports event, the Cristmas Swimming Cup. At 9 am, hundreds of frost-resistant athletes will try their hand at a distance of 125 meters in icy water. Splashes, splashes, jokes, young athletes in swimsuits (blue skin with pimples) - and you are standing on the shore in a warm jacket with a glass of hot mulled wine in your hands. Ideally.
Other holiday ideas: do not forget to take your skates with you - a free skating rink is uploaded to Place du Rhone. And take pictures of the art objects of the annual Christmas Tree Festival - trees and sculptures created by artists from all over the world will be scattered throughout. Also dance at one of the parties in L'Usine (the word translates as "factory" - this is the former factory, which is located on the waterfront near the city center). There are many bars, concert venues and nightclubs in this complex, one of which is named after the famous anarchist - La Makhno. After waking up in the morning after "La Makhno", walk to the most beautiful place in the west of Geneva - La Jonction, where the rivers Rhone and Arva meet. From a high railway bridge above the confluence or from below, from the pier, you can see how two multi-colored streams mix and shine in the winter sun - the transparent green waters of the Rhone and the dull white Arves.
And of course, choose a sunny day and take a photo in front of the Jet d'Eau, the famous Geneva fountain that throws water 140 meters high. The fountain is served by a specially trained person, whom some local Russians call it: zhedoshnik. The grinder cuts off the water supply if the wind is too strong and blows the stream towards the road running along the coast.
Montreux
It is a small, French-speaking city, like Geneva, with old hotels, stunning landscapes and the medieval Chillon Castle nearby. Bonivard, the "Prisoner of Chillon", spent four years in the dungeon of this castle, chained to a column. Now on this column there are fetters, into which anyone can stick their hand when posing for a memorable photo. And the entire column is decorated with carved names in the style of "Kisa and Osya were here." One of these names belongs to Byron, Byron's signature carved into soft stone by his hand is placed under a protective glass. On the pre-holiday weeks, a medieval Christmas market opens within the walls of the castle - no kitsch, everything is very authentic.
The panorama from the top of the mountain is unforgettable.
But the main sign of Christmas is the Marche de Noel, a fabulous bazaar that opens on the waterfront at the end of November. One familiar five-year-old girl, who first came to Switzerland, told her parents: "Let's live like this!" - and put her hand around everything. Every time I find myself in Switzerland around Christmas, I remember it and internally agree. Come on, yes.
Lucerne
Lucerne is already the middle, German-speaking part of the country. Here the famous story of a boy, an apple, an arrow and a well-aimed dad William Tell took place. During the festive week in Lucerne, you should visit Engelsstimmen - the battle of children's choirs performing Christmas carols (held in the station building), ride on the lake on an ornate steamer and knock among the cozy cheerful crowd at the Christmas markets, the main of which opens on the Franziskanerplatz on December 4.
In Lucerne, the free skating rink is flooded in the city center on the lakeside, famous designers are responsible for the illumination, and stands around them with various gastronomic delights. In addition, Lucerne is famous for its mineral water spa: a couple of days in one of the local wellness hotels and you will look as if you have never had any problems. Life is one, and when to please yourself, if not on Christmas?
Zurich
Among the Swiss cities, Zurich celebrates Christmas with the largest scale. The largest Christmas market in Europe is held here in the railway station building. On this occasion, the station is creatively decorated, changing the art objects suspended from the ceiling for more elegant ones - for example, they can hang a giant cow with gilded horns and wings. You never know what they will come up with this time. Christmas Zurich - practical German lessons while buying souvenirs in small wooden chalets, Christmas tram for children (with Santa the carriage driver), Santa Claus parade on November 30 and a swim of Santa walruses in early December, market with a workshop on making Christmas candles at Buerkliplatz and a unique singing tree at Werdmuhleplatz. And also light shows and festive installations on Bahnhofstrasse, performances of Christmas circuses and a “diamond” city tree decorated with six thousand Swarovski crystals. The holiday starts here already at the end of November.
If you are staying in the city for Christmas itself, be sure to go to the cathedral for the festive mass. Nothing makes you feel the spirit of Christmas more than church rituals honed over the centuries to perfection. Bern's symbol is a bear, which is, of course, a sign that Russian tourists will feel like family in the city.
Knyazyan Vahe, grade 7
The text material tells about the traditions of the Christmas and New Year holidays in Switzerland. A report prepared by a 7th grade student can be used as additional material to prepare for linguistic and cultural competitions or during extracurricular activities, for example, a week of German.
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Traditions and Christmas holidays in Switzerland
Perhaps, holidays, like nothing else, can demonstrate the essence of national culture, its soul. Holidays in Switzerland are divided into national ones, which are celebrated by all residents of the country. National holidays, in turn, are divided into religious and state holidays. If you remember that Switzerland is a confederation that unites 23 cantons with a rich history under its flag, then it is not surprising that each region has its own local holidays. In addition, the strong influence of French, Italian and German cultures determined the unique flavor that is inherent in every celebration.
They say that if you take a little Germany, add a fair share of France and a little Italy, you get Switzerland. Probably, Christmas should be so average-European here, Switzerland is distinguished by a variety of unusual Christmas and "St. Nicholas" traditions: after all, this country is extremely multinational. There are French, German and Italian districts, each of which has preserved its own ways of organizing holidays and feasts, as well as their own dates for these holidays (most of them fall just in the winter). In addition, there are still many isolated mountain villages in the country that honor their traditions and do everything in their own way, in a special way. Not surprisingly, before Christmas, so many tourists come to Switzerland from all over the world.
What could be better than meeting New Year and Christmas in the snow-capped Alpine mountains, with clean air and numerous lakes around? Every year Switzerland gathers hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world for Christmas. Athletes and active youth go to ski resorts, ladies do winter shopping in the local fashionable shops, and couples who prefer a calm and comfortable stay fly to the shores of the famous Lake Geneva, or stay in one of the quiet Alpine villages.
Christmas markets
The festive atmosphere comes to Switzerland on November 26th. It was then that here, in the commune of Einsiedeln (German: Einsiedeln), the first Christmas market with gifts and surprises opens. A month (or even earlier) before Christmas, all houses are transformed. The streets of the cities are decorated with fluffy Swiss Christmas trees, and in restaurants and roadside cafeterias, a special dish begins to be served - hot chestnuts, which are considered an indispensable attribute of the holiday. Spending Christmas in Switzerland is like being in a fairy tale. Switzerland has never looked as cozy as it does on Christmas. Many houses are decorated with festive garlands and other Christmas symbols; small installations with Santa Clauses and animal figurines are arranged on balconies and walls of houses. Decorating houses, both outside and inside, takes a lot of money and time. You will find many different things - colorful garlands, real candles, wreaths made of natural or artificial pine needles, and fabulous figurines of deer, bears, snowmen ... On holidays, you can wander through the evening streets - illuminated buildings look new; admire the beautifully illuminated windows and take a closer look at the things you like, for which after the holidays there will be a collapse in prices.
In December, fairs are already opening everywhere. The largest Christmas market, the Marché de Noël de Montreux, takes place in the city of Montreux (French Montreux) from November 26 to December 24. Here you can taste dishes from all cantons, that is, the regions of Switzerland - Italian, German, French.
People come here not only for shopping, but also just to have fun, to eat something tasty.
When you come to Switzerland for Christmas, you need to remember one thing: almost all this beauty disappears right after Christmas, and does not live up to the New Year. The Christmas fairy tale, as befits a real fairy tale, ends immediately after Christmas. However, warm memories from the cheerful atmosphere will warm the soul for another year.
In addition, those wishing to devote a couple of days to shopping should be careful: although in December before Christmas two days on Saturday shops are open until 20 p.m., and the authorities also allow Sunday shopping, however, during the holidays, you may find that all shops are closed. including at the station.
Pre-Christmas and New Year's Eve in Switzerland is the busiest time of the year. Everyone is trying to think over and organize the celebration of Christmas as carefully as possible.A month before the holiday, a wreath of branches and flowers is placed on a special table, and a candle is placed in it every Sunday.
The appearance of the fourth candle means the onset of Christmas.
You need to buy gifts for all relatives. If you forget someone, there is no forgiveness for you. In most cases, everyone already knows what they will give him, but everyone hopes for a miracle. Most of all, the Swiss value "handmade" gifts, which can be made with their own hands or bought at one of the Christmas markets. Thanks to the Christmas market, cities are truly fabulous. I set up a Christmas tree in the city, decorate the fairground with garlands, sell Glühwein (mulled wine) and Guetzli (Christmas cookies). To experience the Swiss Christmas spirit, you should definitely go to the Christmas market. Here you can taste delicious national dishes from all over Switzerland. From the salty ingredients you should try the “native Swiss” pâtés, from the sweets - Christmas cookies. Dough figurines are sold throughout Switzerland in December, which in the French part are called Christmas men, and in the German part - the Gritibans. If you're looking for a real Swiss Christmas treat, bake a gritinbanza (Christmas man) at one of the many bakeries that invariably offer baking masterclasses. Lucerne is especially famous for its Gritbanians. There is a bakery with a bakery school. Of course, not only Christmas men are taught to bake in it, but December is their time.
Once upon a time, the Gritibans made different types - some depicted Santa Claus, others as Christmas elves or gnomes, but those days are long gone.
For children, going to the Christmas market is a whole holiday. They must be taken to the workshop of Santa Claus. Children in it help the Christmas elves, make toys themselves or draw postcards. Not for themselves, but for their peers from poor countries.
Children get a lot of unforgettable impressions helping Santa Claus and his elves make toys and paint postcards in the workshop.
At the fairs you can buy everything that your soul can wish for on Christmas Eve. These are handmade glass balls, blown right in front of you, and wooden toys-riddles, and various sweets and saltiness, which can be bought after the holidays, but not so expensive, and a bunch of all sorts of "absolutely necessary" things in the household, which can successfully collect dust for the next 10 years. From 8 to 23 December, the Christmas market is open in the old town of Zurich. Here, on the main cobbled street of Niederdorfstrasse and Hirschenplatz, the most skilled craftsmen and artisans from Switzerland and neighboring countries display their wares. The Zürich Christmas Market is considered one of the oldest trade fairs in the world.
Fairs are not only a place where gifts and souvenirs are traditionally bought. This is a place where people have a lot of fun. These are exhibitions, performances and concerts. Here you can treat yourself to chestnuts and gutzli biscuits made from various doughs in the shape of stars, crescents and bells.
If you find yourself in Zurich at Christmas, be sure to walk along Bahnhofstrasse, which also dresses up in garlands for this holiday. It is worth noting that the tradition of hanging such illumination on the main street of Zurich has been around for decades, but all attempts to make any changes are met with misunderstanding on the part of the conservative Swiss. The city authorities tried to offer something new, but this initiative did not meet with support from the Swiss. They write to the newspapers, demand that everything remain as it is.
Despite the fact that Zurich is a city of staid bankers, calculating businessmen and ambitious politicians, during the Christmas holidays the city turns into a fairy tale come to life. Here Santa Claus wanders the streets with a sack on his back, and adults and children vying with each other sing a Christmas carol to him, trying to get a surprise, a tram runs along the embankment, which is ruled by Santa himself, and angels give out tickets to young passengers (children under 10 are allowed to ride the tram. years). The tram is one of the favorite modes of transport in this country. Runs strictly according to the schedule, quickly, conveniently. It is so convenient that even angels and Santa Claus ride the tram, leaving their sleigh. True, only once a year - before Christmas and only on one magical tram. It departs from the central square every twenty minutes. He drives a magical Christmas tram, angels sing Christmas carols to children-passengers and tell magical stories. There are no adult tickets for this route, they are never allowed on the magic tram.
Houses and shop windows decorated with magnificent garlands, figurines of fairy animals and Santa, unique illumination - all this creates an unusual atmosphere of the approximation of a fairy tale. The central street of the old city, Bahnhofstrasse, is traditionally decorated with vertical shining lamps that imitate the play of the northern lights, with long garlands of more than 20 thousand bulbs. The main decoration for Christmas in Zurich is considered to be a 15-meter spruce, decorated with thousands of exclusive Swarovski crystals, installed at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Zurich Central Station), and a singing spruce, towering over Werdmuhleplatz.
Particularly beautiful is the small Rennweg, which runs up the hill from Bahnhofstrasse, and the small Augustinergasse, next to the Augustinian church, where charming stars are added in addition to a range of pretty bay windows. The most enchanting is the Rennweg, which branches off from Bahnhofstrasse. It is decorated with thousands of vertical garlands of light bulbs, creating an incredible sense of space. Many streets are complemented by small wooden tents decorated with spruce branches, where you can buy a popular winter delicacy - fried chestnuts. It is the smell of roasted chestnuts that gives that unique charm to walks in winter Zurich.
Popular New Year souvenirs from Switzerland
The most popular souvenir from Switzerland is chocolate. It can be in the form of round candies, sets of chocolates of different shapes with all kinds of fillings or bars. The most popular among the Swiss themselves is Teuscher chocolate. It is quite expensive in cost, one hundred grams of such a delicacy will cost about 8 francs. Teusher chocolate is sold in brand shops that can be found in any city. In Zurich, for example, many chocolate shops are located on Bahnhofstrasse, which also offers chocolate from such well-known brands as Nestle, Frey, Spruengli, Lindt and others.
Another popular souvenir from Switzerland is aromatic cheese. In Swiss stores, it is sold in any form: by weight, in assorted souvenir sets, cut and in other forms. A small set of, for example, four types of cheese will cost about 5 francs.
A large selection of cheeses are presented at the weekly fair, which takes place every Wednesday at the Zurich train station. In addition to cheeses, it offers a large selection of homemade sausages. Since November 25, such a fair has been operating on an ongoing basis. It is considered the largest Christmas market in Europe. At this time, over 170 stalls decorated with Christmas wreaths and garlands are located around a lush Christmas tree decorated with Svarovski crystals. Private manufacturers and representatives of well-known brands offer their products every day. From Monday to Friday, the fair is open from 11:00 to 21:00, and on weekends from 10:00 to 20:00.
One of the nicest souvenirs you can bring back from Christmas Switzerland is your hand-made natural wax candle. You can get a candle making workshop and make yourself a gift in one of the tents at the Christmas market. The atmosphere there is indescribable: it smells of honey, there are containers with molten wax, there are molds on the tables, white strings are hung on the walls.
Another souvenir most often taken away by tourists from Switzerland is a watch. The largest number of shops where you can buy Swiss watches is located along the Bahnhofstrasse. Such a souvenir in this area will cost approximately 70 - 110 francs.
The famous Swiss gingerbread can also be a great souvenir. Their cost is very different and depends on the size, manufacturer, composition, packaging and other factors. A large gingerbread man, for example, will cost approximately 7 francs, and a 500 gram set of small gingerbreads will cost 13-17 francs.
Ceramics, magnets, knives, magnets depicting the sights of Switzerland and others are also frequently bought souvenirs by tourists. A wide variety of them, especially on the eve of the New Year and Christmas, are offered by the souvenir departments of almost any more or less large store. The most popular destination for avid shoppers, for example, in Zurich is Bahnhofstrasse. Here you can find a huge variety of exclusive items that will remind you of the fabulous days spent in this wonderful country.
St. Nicolas day
Traditionally, a series of holidays in Switzerland begins on December 6, from the day of St. Nicholas. Samihlaus (Saint Nicholas) comes to the children on December 6 and gives mostly sweets, but his figures climbing down drainpipes or looking out of the window, or chasing their faithful deer / donkey can be seen throughout the month. Samihlaus wears a red hooded coat and has a long white beard. On the evening of December 6, he comes to visit the children, if, of course, the parents took care of this in advance and were invited. He does not come with the Snow Maiden, but with a terrible black man. This is Schmuzl. It is believed that Santa Claus gives gifts to good children, and Schmuzl punishes bad ones. The Swiss Santa has a book in which it is recorded who behaved like themselves throughout the year. But usually Schmutzl does not have to punish anyone. It's not that in Switzerland all children are good, it's just that it's not customary to remember the bad on a holiday.
Like here in Russia, children read poems to Santa Claus, after which he gives them gifts and gives them mostly sweets.
Santa and Schmuzl also attend schools and kindergartens, and bring a large bag full of nuts, tangerines, cookies and other sweets. For this meeting, children prepare special poems about Samihlaus, which they recite and sing for Samihlaus for a reward. Samihlaus and Schmutzli also have a rod with which they are going to punish bad children, which in fact never happens. Previously, disobedient children were often threatened that Samihlaus would take them to the forest in his sack if they did not obey. Today Samihlaus is a kind grandfather for all children who brings gifts. In the Italian part of Switzerland, in the canton of Ticino, on the eve of Epiphany, a female Saint Nicholas appears - the old woman Befana (distorted from Epifania), and in French-speaking Switzerland - the old woman Shosh (Chauche-vieille). On the evening of December 5, in Ticino, children hang out socks, waiting for gifts, which the next day they will find filled with either sweets (for obedient children) or bits of coal (for naughty children).
The annual swims of Santa Clauses who have not lost their athletic form amuse adults and children. The competition usually takes place on December 6 at Lake Zurich. For winter fun, a huge free skating rink is also prepared for the holidays on the lake, and the Conelli circus performances are held on the ruins of the city fortress. On the evening of December 25, in honor of the arrival of Christmas, the lake is illuminated with millions of spectacular fireworks.
In the Catholic regions of Switzerland (especially in the canton of Schwyz), a tradition called the "Pursuit of St. Nicholas" (Klausjagen) is celebrated on December 5th. Men, dressed in long white robes, carry huge mitres on their heads in the dark. These very bulky structures weighing 25 kg and more cannot be called headdresses. Meanwhile, they are used precisely in this capacity. Lighted candles are placed inside these gigantic episcopal mitres. Saint Nicholas was a bishop - hence the miter. In the dark, fire shines through their patterns and the illusion of church stained-glass windows appears. Some of these hats are over 100 years old. People in luminous mitres solemnly, as befits bishops, move across the square. And then the music is heard. It is, surrounded by a noisy retinue of torchbearers, Saint Nicholas himself appears, and behind him - the musicians. Each blows a huge horn. At the end of the procession is a group of townspeople dressed as shepherds. Each has a large cow bell in his hands. Clicking whips, ringing bells, trumpet sounds of horns here frightened away evil spirits even in pagan times. Subsequently, this rite became part of the Christian holiday. To see this holiday in all its glory, it is worth visiting the town of Küssnacht, which is located on the shore of Lake Firvalstät, where the borders of four cantons meet at once. People from all over the country gather to Klaus Jagen, more than 20 thousand people come to take part in the procession in honor of St. Nicholas .. German, French, Italian speech sounds. The traditions of these three European peoples in Switzerland have become so intertwined that it is no longer possible to separate them from each other. After the parade of participants, the saint himself appears, and next to him is a thunderstorm of disobedient children - Schmutzl. It is worth noting that it is on this holiday that Santa Claus, aka Saint Nicholas, gives gifts to Swiss children, and not at all at Christmas, when the whole action takes place around the baby Jesus. On the streets of Switzerland, Santa Claus walk around, handing out sweets to children and adults. Next to them there is a terrible scarecrow Schmutzli, which hunts for bad children.
Gingerbread men are being prepared for St. Nicholas Day in Switzerland. Due to the Christmas fast, however, the dough from which the figurines are baked has very little to do with real gingerbread dough.
Leisya, song
A few weeks before Christmas in Basel, which is located in northwestern Switzerland and borders Germany and France at the same time, Christmas markets, festivals, street chants and all kinds of performances begin in the city's central square and other smaller squares.
These days it is interesting to walk along the narrow, ornate streets of Basel, listening to sonorous voices coming from different corners. The sounds of one choir are combined with another, standing in the neighboring square - it seems that all the singers have specially agreed to sing in the canon. This unique atmosphere is complemented by Christmas carols in the temples. Anyone can get into the church, regardless of religion.
The songs are sung in German or Swiss-German (which is not the same thing at all), they sound beautiful and solemn. It seems strange, but here it is customary to honor the artists with applause only at the end of the concert and never in the intervals between songs.
And in Zurich, on Saturdays, you can find a singing Christmas tree - a pedestal in the form of a Christmas tree, on which teenagers in red caps, like balls on a Christmas tree, sing Christmas songs.
Christmas cookies
The Swiss also have a special traditional holiday cookie for Christmas. The Swiss are firmly convinced that buying it in stores is practically a crime, only homemade ones are recognized. On the pre-Christmas days, housewives bake it according to family recipes. And the whole of Switzerland, as if its inhabitants these days have no other worries, honestly kneads the dough for hours, stands at the stove, making sure that the precious biscuits do not burn. All Swiss moms have a real baking competition. And wherever you go during this period - everywhere you will be greeted by a variety of cookies, and some of them are even wrapped in small bags specially for distribution to guests. Typically, these gift sets include lemon crescent cookies, candied fruit, nut baked goods, and soft almond muffins. Two more elements of the compulsory program are hearts stuffed with jam, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and nuts with coconut. Also, the set certainly contains some kind of special cookies, which are prepared exclusively by this chef or this family. The number of varieties of Christmas cookies just can't be counted. It seems that for the housewives who have spent so much time, effort and work on cookies, at the end of this work nothing will be sweeter than to sit in a comfortable chair, relax tired legs and finally taste the fruits of their deeds. But no, the cookies were not made to be eaten in the house where they were baked. It is packed in tin or cardboard boxes or in colorful paper bags and handed to friends and acquaintances. But they also spent more than one hour in the kitchen, working hard on their brand of cookies. Therefore, they do not remain in debt and, in turn, give gifts to guests. As a result, no one is left without cookies and a firm conviction that a cookie baked at home is much better than one received as a gift.
Christmas
So, for the bustle and fun, Christmas itself comes imperceptibly - the main family holiday in Switzerland, which is actively celebrated regardless of the "nationality" of the canton. Christmas in Switzerland falls on the night of December 24-25.
The tree is dressed up for Christmas; toys, bells and bows for decorating the Christmas tree in every family are customary to make themselves. Gifts for Christmas are not given by Santa Claus or Santa Claus, but by the Infant Jesus / (Christkind), a snow-white angel in a crown, before whose appearance a silver bell is ringing.
Christmas begins with a church mass in every village and town in Switzerland. Religious Christmas carols continue at home. Christmas in Switzerland is celebrated very calmly, without fireworks, noise and other fun. This is a family holiday, modest and not fussy. So family-run that it is almost hopeless to find a working restaurant on Christmas night.
Families gather at home under real trees, and with real wax candles, which the head of the family lights up. Even before lighting candles, all gifts - beautifully wrapped, with names on fastened ribbons - are laid out under the tree in neat piles. Then, after the first glass of champagne, the donation ceremony begins. Everyone looks for their boxes, picks them up, but does not open them right away. By tradition, you need to wait until everyone pays attention to one of those present. Then he will try to guess from whom he received this or that gift, and only then will he open it, and only after that the guests will turn their attention to the next owner of the coveted box. When the tree is lit and the presents are dismantled, a small but tasty meal follows. On the table are traditional dishes: a variety of pies, puff pastries with meat and cheese, and for sweets - huge ringli donuts and hot chocolate. The table is rather modest.
Families spend quiet old-world evenings at the festive table. The Swiss do not like how the British and Americans celebrate Christmas - with gastronomic excesses and plentiful drinks to the deafening roar of the inextinguishable TV. There are no paper hats or crackers on Swiss Christmas. After a festive dinner, the whole family of the Swiss go to Christmas church services, regardless of whether they belong to the Catholic or Protestant branch of Christianity. On Christmas Eve in the church you can meet many people who do not attend it on ordinary days.
The Swiss work ethic also manifests itself in relation to the holidays. If the two days of Christmas fall on a weekend, then no compensation for holidays in the form of time off or additional non-working days should be given. On Monday, the Swiss go back to work like cute little ones and toil in the sweat of their brow for their well-being in the coming new year.
New Year
As in all of Europe, Switzerland celebrates the New Year on December 31st. However, New Year's is not unusual for the Swiss. This is a simple homemade feast, even without gifts. The scale of the New Year in Switzerland cannot be compared with the scale of Christmas, when the whole country is literally seething with impatience and each city arranges something of its own. Perhaps, December 31 here would not even be a day off, if not for one "but" ... And the name of this "but" is Saint Sylvester. That was the name of the Pope, who lived in the III century and was able to catch a huge monster in 314, preventing the apocalypse. Since then, Catholics have offered prayers to this saint, and the day of the death of Pope Sylvester, December 31 (he died in 336 A.D.), is considered a religious holiday.
Once Christians believed that in 1000 the terrible serpent Leviathan would break out of the depths of the sea again, destroy the whole world, and the end of the world would come. But people offered up prayers to their patron Sylvester, and trouble did not happen.
It is this story that is remembered on New Year's Eve in Switzerland and carnivals are held in honor of the mythical characters, and the participants themselves are called Sylvester Claus. Masquerades, which are held in every entertainment establishment, are the main distinguishing feature of New Year's Eve in Switzerland. Restaurants lure the public not with New Year's gastronomic delights, but with masquerades. Although the festive dinner will be up to par. After all, Swiss cuisine is a combination of French, Italian and German cuisine.
For several days before and after the New Year in Switzerland, you can meet people in masks and different costumes. Colorful carnival processions in narrow streets, crowds of cheerful townspeople in bright costumes fill all the streets of Swiss cities. Dressed with Christmas trees and decorated with bells, New Year's Claus wander the Swiss countryside and wish all the best for the new year. They sing and dance and the villagers give them food, drinks or money. It is believed that the visit of such a Klaus helps to get rid of evil spirits in the house.
The New Year's holiday in Switzerland is somewhat different from ours: they usually don’t give anything for the New Year, but only arrange a festive dinner, but it is not customary to arrange a plentiful feast here. And yet, one ancient custom that is associated with food there is pear gingerbread, which the Swiss exchange with their friends and neighbors on New Year's Eve, and then eat it for dessert.
In some parts of Switzerland, there is a tradition to call the day of December 31 "Sylvester", so the question "What will you do on Sylvester?" means "How are you going to celebrate the New Year?" And the last one who woke up on this day is called Sylvester and is forced to pay a fine - even if only with sweets.
Old new year in swiss
Some people mistakenly believe that Russia is the only country where there is a holiday with a strange name - the old New Year. In the canton of Appenzell-Outer, this holiday is repeated again on 13 January, this time under the name "Alter Silvester". In the 16th century, the inhabitants of the Protestant part of Appenzell flatly refused, unlike their Catholic neighbors, to switch to the Gregorian calendar and continued to live according to the Julian calendar, i.e. old style. Just like the Orthodox, Pope Gregory XIII was not a decree to them. Appenzell-Outer did not abandon the tradition of honoring Old Sylvester, even when all of Switzerland finally switched to the Gregorian calendar.
Officially, January 13 in Appenzell is not a day off, but in fact, most businesses, schools, shops and government offices are closed on this day. From 5 in the morning, almost all of their male residents, including children, come out onto the snow-covered streets of the Appenzell towns and villages, in the costumes of Sylvester Claus (Silvesterklaus) of three varieties - forest (from spruce branches), evil (with fierce masks) and kind (with unimaginably high kokoshniks and a cheerful chamomile in his mouth).
Sylvesterklaus
Sylvesterklaus wear masks with female or male faces, hang on the chest and back of a botal, and erect lush headdresses on their heads. These are the so-called "beautiful" Klausi. There are also ugly Klaus with demonic masks, horns on their heads; they are dressed in coarse garments of hides and twigs. You can also meet "forest" Klaus in costumes made of branches and leaves. In small groups, Sylvesterklaus go from house to house, singing yodels and wish everyone a Happy New Year. Silvesterklaus celebrate the New Year according to the Julian calendar. This tradition has its roots in 1582, when Pope Gregor XIII reformed the calendar. Residents of the Protestant canton of Appenzell Ausserroden refused to follow this direct order from Rome, and since then they have been celebrating the New Year on January 13th.
Herisau - the capital of one of the smallest formations in the confederation, the half-canton of Appenzell-Ausserroden, where on New Year's Eve you can easily see a Christmas tree walking along rural paths, hung with heavy cow bells. A strange creature called Sylvesterklaus is a cross between Santa Claus and a mythical monster, which was supposedly imprisoned in one of the local castles by the priest Sylvester, who lived in the 11th century. Silwesterklaus gives gifts to children - but this does not prevent him from instilling fear in the adults of the canton.Singing "Zäuerli" (a special kind of polyphonic yodel characteristic of Appenzell), they walk through the deep snow from farm to farm, ringing cow bells to scare away evil spirits. "Going out to the people" is preceded by a many-hour ritual with donning costumes in the house of the leader of each group of 6 Sylvester Claus, whose wife, mother or daughter prepares a very hearty breakfast for the guests with the famous Appenzell spicy cheese and white wine.
Although Old Sylvester is revered throughout the canton of Appenzell Outer, the most beautiful festival in his honor, according to experts, takes place in Urnäsch. This village of 2,000 souls, located in the valley of the same name, has its own station, to which the characteristic red carriages of the narrow-gauge Appenzell Railways will take you from St. Gallen.
List of sites
- http://focus.ua/foreign
- http://tiptotrip.ru
- http://www.amstel.su/country/4/info/38
- http://www.aboutswiss.ch
- http://zurichcity.ru/rozhdestvo-v-cyurixe/
Christmas in Switzerland is a favorite time of the local population and many tourists. Cities are dressing up, Christmas markets are everywhere, the smell of mulled wine, muffins, cheese, sausages is in the air! In one word - get crazy! But it looks different in Swiss cities too. For example, the scope of decorations and festivities in Geneva and Zurich differs at times. In Geneva, in the old town, there is a lonely Christmas tree, in some places there are light garlands and only 4-5 houses of the Christmas market. And it's all. The longing is green. Zurich is different! We got out at the station, the jaw dropped! So she lay somewhere on her knees, forcing me to rejoice at every new turn, in every new lane in a new way! The scenery changed, like in an expensive Hollywood movie! Rather, like in an expensive Hollywood Christmas tale! The whole city is decorated with small lamps on long thin cables, they hang freely, swaying, creating a complete illusion of a starry sky! Zurich's main street, Bahnhofstrasse (aka Vokzalnaya), is decorated in every way. Along the entire street, every 100 m, live fluffy spruces are stuck into the hatches, all of them are decorated with ordinary colorful balls (like in my childhood), all in the same style! Showcases, doors, windows compete with each other in the beauty of decoration. And you walk with your mouth open, eyes wide open and admire, admire, wonder! And as soon as you start to get used to it, and then oops - and a new fairy tale! They turned the corner of the UBS bank, and there, in a small square, they created such a fairy tale - Hollywood is resting! Small Christmas trees are everywhere, with gift boxes near them. The boxes contain installations on various themes, from there the music plays quietly. In a box with the Nutcracker, the famous Waltz of Flowers! It was a pleasure! The crown of beauty is a big tree! Very beautiful! All ate natural, do not skimp, do not save! In the old town there is a Christmas market, in the houses they bake pancakes, donuts, churos, sausages, garlic breads are fried, mulled wine flows like a river! The most delicious one I've drank at the Christmas markets so far! The smell of raclette is everywhere! Country of cheeses and chocolate! The choir sang on a special platform built in the shape of a Christmas tree. Christmas and New Year's songs. In some Slavic language. In Polish or Czech - I just didn't understand! They sang very beautifully! A whole concert! In Niederdorf (Niederdotf - literally translated "lower village") - part of the old town of Zurich, another Christmas market. People in crowds happily move from fair to fair. We saved the main fair in the building of the Central Station for a snack. With the main Christmas tree of the country! The tree is decorated with Swarovski crystals. Below, under the tree, are showcases with decorations, as an option for a gift for the New Year! Among the necklaces was one in which Nicole Kidman starred in the Moulin Rouge. Well, a lot of other, lovely ladies' heart, things! Impressions - a lot! Feeling of prosperity and confidence in the future! As one friend of mine said: "Fat little Christmas!" And I had the feeling of a fairy tale! Magic! Hope for the best! And sincere belief that everything will finally be fine with us!