Swiss Jingle Bells

Swiss Jingle Bells Zurich, Switzerland (SP)-If there is one time of the year, when traditions are upheld even by those not actively religious, it is Christmas. The festive time of the year starts with advent, a four-week period leading up to Christmas Eve. A waiting period during which children are taught that patience yields rewards, advent is synonymous with home-made biscuits, advent calendars, Christmas markets and advent wreaths. Each day, Swiss children collect their (mostly chocolaty) treats behind the little “doors” of their calendars, counting down the weeks to the day, when they can light the last candle on the advent wreath. They know all too well, that once all four candles are lit, Christmas Eve is not merely a few sleeps away. To shorten the wait during advent even further, Samichlaus (St. Nikolaus - Saint Nicholas) and his less likable companion Schmutzli, schedule a visit for the 6th of December, bringing either goodies or punishment, depending on how well-behaved the children have been throughout the year. In addition, every city and area stages events to extend their stay – in Zurich, tough men and women can be seen taking the plunge into the 4°C waters of the river Limmat in full St. Nikolaus costumes. As time passes quickly, and the 24th door/window on building-size or small advent calendars opens, an eerie silence suddenly spreads over the cities and towns of Switzerland. Now, not only the heavily decorated streets bear evidence to the fact that the most important day of the festive season has finally arrived, but through windows, families can be seen transforming their Christmas trees into works of art. Bought weeks before the event, but kept in the natural freezer that is the outdoors, the trees have remained so fresh that it is safe to decorate them with wax candles instead of artificial decorative lights. In the early evening, the family sits down to Christmas dinner, the last event before the arrival of the Christkind (Santa is only the helper). On the evening of 24th December, the Christkind with her arms full of presents, is said to sneak in while the family are occupied with savoring their special Christmas meal. Once all surprises are placed on the blanket underneath the tree and all candles and sparklers are lit, the Christkind rings a little bell and then quickly rushes outside into the cover of darkness in order to watch the family rush into the festive room. The family chants Christmas carols upon entering and children scan the tree and presents with big eyes full of curiosity and apprehension. As the candles burn lower and lower and the last sparklers die away, the presents are unwrapped.