Switzerland is a place
where winter holiday traditions thrive. The holiday season in Switzerland
is a unique blend of old and new customs; Catholic and Protestant
religions; and German, French and Italian influences.
Although Christmas traditions
abound in Switzerland, there is no single "typically Swiss"
holiday custom. The people of different regions celebrate the season
in their own way. While the holiday celebrations across the countryside
have their own uniqueness, a closer look at the Swiss holiday customs
and traditions reveals that many of them have been influenced by
the surrounding countries.
Certain traditions, such
as the Advent wreath, the Christmas tree, Christmas carols, a large
holiday meal and St. Nicholas, are observed by most of the Swiss
population. Although as you travel through the different regions
of Switzerland you will find St. Nicholas is known by many different
names Father Christmas, Samichlaus, the Christkindli, Père
Noël, and Gesú Bambino. But to each he represents the
On Christmas Eve the
children must leave the room while the parents adorn the Christmas
tree in secret. The Swiss Christmas tree is often illuminated with
real candles and topped with either a star or an angel. Cookies,
nuts and foil wrapped chocolates hang from the boughs.
For many centuries chocolate
has had a special place in Switzerland. At Christmas time chocolate
treats are often given as gifts and used to decorate the trees.
Although the Swiss did not invent chocolate they have perfected
it and are the world's largest consumers of chocolate today.
On Christmas Eve in some
of the peasant homes found in remote mountain vales, an onion is
cut and separated into 12 layers, one for each month of the coming
year, each is filled or covered with salt. On the following morning,
the layer is examined and those that are damp, indicate rainy months,
and those that are dry indicate the fair months.