How the Swiss Celebrate Christmas

Christmas in Switzerland is amongst the most unique in the world. While it still retains many of the Christian traditions, it deviates in some ways, just as every country and culture has its own ethnic-specific tradition.

The week just before Christmas, Swiss children dress up (kind of like Halloween in North America) and visit their neighbor's homes with small presents. Bell ringing is also very popular in Switzerland, signifying the time for midnight mass. Swiss villages compete with one another to see how can ring their bells the longest and get everyone into mass the quickest. After the midnight mass, families get together in their homes and drink hot chocolate accompanied by ringli, a special type of Swiss donut.

Almost all of the Western World has their gifts delivered by Father Christmas or Santa Claus, except for the Swiss. Christkindli (in the German-speaking cantons) or Le petit Jésus (in the French-speaking cantons) clad in white wearing a jewel crown with a veil is an angel that delivers gifts to Swiss children. Her arrival is marked by the ringing of silver bells and candles on trees are lit upon her entrance to the house hold. Christkindli brings helpers with her and produces presents from a basket which her helpers carry.

On the 6^th of December, the Chlausjagen Festival, also known as the Feast of St. Nicholas, is celebrated as soon as the sun goes down. A procession of men," lifeltrager", walk the through villages and cities wearing enormous illuminated lanterns on their heads. Throughout the long Christmas season, "Sternsingers" or Star Singers, dress up as the Three Kings march through the villages and towns caroling as well.