Swiss Christmas will surprise you in many ways. Cookies and fondue on the Christmas Eve table

Swiss Christmas is a unique experience that will surprise you in many ways.

On Christmas Eve, Swiss people usually have cookies and fondue on the table.

Although Swiss Christmas customs are similar to those of Germany and Austria, they also have their own traditions.

Have you ever wondered who Samichlaus and Christkind are?

Or why do the Swiss go around the village with a cowbell?

You will learn about these and many other Swiss Christmas traditions in the following lines.

When is Christmas celebrated in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, Christmas is celebrated on December 24, or Heiliger Abend, according to the traditions of the individual regions. Most of these traditions are closely related to religious beliefs. In the 16th century, many Swiss villages adopted the Catholic or Reformed faith as part of the Reformation, which has influenced the Christmas traditions that are still observed today.

Switzerland has four official languages. “Merry Christmas” in Swiss German is “Schöni Wiehnachte,” in French, it’s “Joyeux Noël,” in Italian, it’s “Buon Natale,” and in Romansh, it’s “Bellas festas da Nadal.”

Do you know Swiss Christmas traditions?

Advent is associated with the beginning of Christmas preparations. Advent calendars are popular, and many cities have Christmas markets where people can enjoy hot glühwein or mulled wine.

In Switzerland, there are many local traditions in the form of parades and carol singing. The Bernese Oberland region hosts parades that start on Christmas Day and end on New Year’s Eve. They are called “Trychler” because the men walk in a procession with a large trichlor (cowbell) or carry drums and may wear masks. They walk through the streets, make noise, and have the task of warding off evil spirits. Where did the tradition of these parades come from?

Christmas trees are traditionally decorated on Christmas Day. Some people like to use real candles for the tree, usually lit when presents are unwrapped.

In some areas of Switzerland, there is a widespread belief that on Christmas Eve, animals were given the power to speak. A tradition then arose that farm animals receive an extra portion of hay or grain on Heiliger Abend.

Who brings the children’s presents?

From the beginning of December to the beginning of January, many gifts await Swiss children. The first gifts are brought by Santa, known as Samichlaus, who brings them with his helper Schmutzli and a donkey.

When Swiss children wake up on the morning of December 6, they are greeted by a Samichlaussack, a bag containing nuts, tangerines, chocolate, and often lebkuchen, or gingerbread, and gritibänz, a Christmas dough figurine.

The number of goodies received can sometimes increase when a child recites a poem to Santa. Schmutzli is in charge of “punishing” unruly children by whipping them with a twig broom.

On Christmas Day, gifts from Christkind (Jesus) “miraculously” appear under the tree in the late afternoon. Around 6 p.m., the Christmas Eve meal is served, and the family gathers around the Christmas tree in the living room, lighting candles, listening to Christmas carols, and unwrapping presents.

On January 6, the Three Kings or, in southern Switzerland, the witch Befana brings the last gifts to the children.

What to eat in Switzerland at Christmas?

While most Swiss only eat Christmas Eve dinner with their immediate family, Christmas Day lunch is usually held in the broader family environment.

The most popular choice for Christmas Eve dinner is “Filet im Teig” (pork roll in batter) or “Schinkli im Teig” (warm ham in batter). The side dish is mashed potatoes and beans or potato salad. Dessert is usually walnut cake and Christmas cookies, such as “zimtsterne, chräbbeli, mailänderli, and brunsli”.

Another classic is cheese, which is also eaten as fondue. In some areas of Switzerland, meat fondue chinoise is also served at Christmas. In this case, thin slices are soaked in a pot and eaten with vegetables and sauces.

How to cook the “Filet im Teig”?

This classic Swiss Christmas delicacy can also become part of your festive table. The preparation is not complicated, and the result is worth it. You can also use puff pastry to make filet in Teig.

Ingredients:

Dough

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cold butter cut into pieces
• 1 1/2 cup semi-fat cottage cheese
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Stuffing

• 1/2 cup spreadable cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
• fresh parsley
• salt
• pepper

Filling

• 18 oz of pork tenderloin
• 12 slices of bacon
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp of milk
• butter
• salt
• pepper

Method:

1. First, prepare the dough.
2. Mix flour and salt.
3. Add the butter and make a crumb.
4. Make a well and add curd.
5. Work into a dough.
6. Wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the fridge for an hour.
7. In the meantime, prepare the stuffing, mix all the ingredients, and season well.
8. Roll out the dough on a floured rolling pin to a size of 16 x 8 inches.
9. Fold the narrow sides over the middle to make three layers of dough.
10. Wrap in baking paper or foil and put in the fridge for 30 minutes.
11. Then, process the dough again according to the above procedure. Wrap the dough in baking paper and leave it to cool for 30 minutes.
12. Preheat the oven to 392 °F.
13. Fry the doll briefly on all sides in hot butter and season.
14. Leave to cool.
15. Roll out the dough into a rectangle.
16. Place the bacon strips side by side on the dough.
17. Spread the filling evenly over the surface.
18. Place the doll in the middle.
19. Beat the eggs with the milk and brush the edges.
20. Carefully roll everything up and place them on the prepared baking sheet “seam” down.
21. Brush the dough with egg and pierce it several times with a fork.
22. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30-40 minutes.

What places to visit in Switzerland at Christmas?

If you associate the ideal holidays with lots of snow, Christmas in Switzerland will be right for you. You can visit famous alpine resorts like St. Moritz, Zermatt or Davos. If the mountains don’t appeal to you, you can spend the Christmas holidays in one of the big Swiss cities.

• Basel—Basel’s Christmas markets are among the most beautiful in Europe. Every year, almost two hundred wooden huts are found in the historic center, and the Münsterplatz square is decorated with a Christmas tree with ornaments by the well-known designer Johann Wanner.

• Zurich—Zurich is home to four major Christmas markets, including one of Europe’s largest at the main train station and the oldest market in the Old Town. Also worth noting is the Christmas tree at Zurich Central Station, decorated with thousands of sparkling Swarovski crystals.

Lucern – if you want to experience a traditional Swiss Christmas with everything, then Lucern is the place to be. Beautiful Christmas decorations, markets and an ice rink on the lake. Of course, the famous Chapel Bridge will also be enveloped in the Christmas atmosphere.