Switzerland Christmas Traditions

Adventkranz advent wreath yesterday everyone opened door number 1 on their advent calendars and today in swiss living rooms around the country people will be lighting the first candle on their adventkranz.

Switzerland christmas traditions. Every year from early november until the week just before christmas small halls and tents are set up around switzerland for such events. Kerzenziehen candle dipping is a popular swiss christmas tradition for families. This procession is known as lifeltrager. Christmas and new year traditions in switzerland society it is a time of year well known for its particularly abundant end of year celebrations especially christian traditions such as saint nicholas santa claus and christmas.

Some are based on ancient traditions while others have emerged only recently. Then every night from december 1st until the 24th one window is revealed. A tradition we all do share though is that our christmas meal happens in the evening not at lunchtime and it s traditionally either before or after church. Weihnachten christmas day in switzerland.

As an expat in switzerland you wish to celebrate christmas the swiss way but you don t know where to start. Processions on the shores of lake lucerne form a part of the christmas traditions in switzerland where people wear large bishop s hats with a candle lit inside it. With mountain snowfall in abundance christmas day begins the winter sports season. Christmas celebrations in switzerland do not differ very much from those in other western european nations and the united states.

Advent symbolizes the beginning of christmas in switzerland. What we are sharing on instagram. 2018 a very swiss christmas. A lovely tradition more common in the villages and smaller towns are advent windows called adventsfenster.

People do this to honor st. However the customs in switzerland s four different linguistic regions german french and italian tend to resemble those of their immediate neighbors germany and austria for the german speaking part france for the french speaking cantons states and italy for. Yes almost every swiss family bakes several batches of christmas cookies. Christmas traditions in switzerland.

Many chilly evenings conclude with delicious fondue. The feast of saint nicholas or the chlausjagen is celebrated on the 6th of december. There people can make their own candles by dipping a wick into tubs of hot molten wax which come in different colors. The festivals celebrated in switzerland differ considerably depending on the season and the region.

Here is my list of top swiss christmas traditions that you should follow this coming holiday. Switzerland has many customs that are tied to the calendar most are of pagan origin or have a religious connection.