We all know that holidays are a time for traditions. But in Switzerland, they take new year’s traditions to a whole other level.
Every New Year’s Eve, the Swiss have special rituals such as gathering around giant bonfires to ward off evil spirits. The tradition is said to date back to the Middle Ages when people would light fires to keep warm.
In addition, at midnight everyone gathers in the town square to watch the firework display and drink champagne. Some even take a dip in the local lake!
Whether you’re looking to start the year with a bang or just enjoy some good old-fashioned fun, Swiss new year traditions are sure to delight.
Aside from these, we chose to share some weird new year’s traditions in Switzerland with you, and those are:
Read on to make sure that it’s the right fit for you.
Planning a trip to Switzerland? These are some traditions you should know.
If you’ve ever been to a New Year’s Eve celebration in Wil, you might have noticed that everyone hangs lanterns outside their homes.
While this might seem like a festive decoration, it actually has a more practical purpose. The tradition was based on a change in the city’s fire code back in 1818.
The city ordered all households to hang a lantern outside should a fire break out. On New Year’s Eve between the hours of 6 PM and 7 PM, all lanterns had to be lit for their proper inspection by city officials.
In the darkness of the night, those officials were likely led through the old town by lanterns.
Today, the tradition is carried on as a way to remember Wil’s humble beginnings. This little town is always in the spotlight during one particular time period.
Every year, its school children have a parade downtown with music and singing.
And by showcasing their colorful paper lanterns, children get the chance to win prizes in the town’s award ceremony.
So, next time you see a lantern hanging on New Year’s Eve, you’ll know there’s more to it than just pretty lights.
If you thought your New Year’s traditions were weird, wait until you hear about what the Swiss do.
Every year on December 31st, they head to the nearest ice cream shop and buy as much ice cream as they can carry.
Then, at the stroke of midnight, they drop it all on the ground. Ice cream mounds pile up on the sidewalks as laughter rings through the air.
The tradition started centuries ago and since then, it has spread throughout Switzerland and has even been adopted by some neighboring countries.
The Swiss say this tradition brings abundance and good fortune in the coming year. It also brings tears to every child’s eyes. But hey, that’s just part of the fun.
After all, what’s New Year’s without a little bit of chaos?
December 31 is a special day in Switzerland.
According to age-old beliefs, it’s a time when evil spirits and demons are especially active. To ward off these harmful beings, the Swiss take part in a number of weird traditions.
While these traditions may seem odd to outsiders, they’re an important part of Swiss culture.
And who knows? Maybe they really do keep the demons away.
Let’s look at the 3 most popular ways to banish evil spirits in Switzerland:
If you find yourself in Laupen, Switzerland on New Year’s Eve, don’t be alarmed if a group of masked men wielding brooms comes chasing after you.
This is just the town’s centuries-old tradition of celebrating the winter solstice.
The Bäsemänner, or broom men, are a mischievous bunch who enjoy playing tricks on the townspeople. But there’s nothing to worry about – they’re just trying to scare away evil spirits.
A group of boys called the Tringeler (bell ringers), come right after the Bäsemänner. These boys are dressed in white gowns and wear cowbells around their waists.
Their job is to ring the bells and purify the town with sound. Many locals will open their windows at this time to let evil out and good fortune in.
If you planning a break in the Bernese Alps during the holiday season, be prepared to hear the sound of drums and bells ringing in the distance.
This is just the Trychler, a group of people who dress in traditional clothing and travel from village to village in order to chase away evil spirits.
The Trychler are said to be especially effective at keeping demons at bay, so if you’re looking to avoid any supernatural encounters this New Year’s Eve, you might want to consider spending the night in Meiringen – the site of the annual Trychler convergence.
At the end of their week-long journey, all of the different Trychler groups come together in Meiringen for one final performance, known as the “bell dorado.”
So if you’re looking for a festive and demon-free way to ring in the new year, head on over to Meiringen and join in on the fun.
Silvesterklausen is a tradition dating back to 1663. It takes place twice a year: on December 31 and on 13 January.
This tradition sees groups of men going from house to house in the early hours of the morning, delivering New Year’s wishes and driving away evil spirits with their noise.
The Silvesterchlausen come in three styles:
1. The Schöne – pretty ones, feature women’s outfits and headdresses showing off entire miniature landscapes.
2. The Wüeschte – ugly ones, sport horrific costumes made of forest items and masks with animal teeth.
3. The Schönwüescht – a mixture of the previous two, natural beast is dressed in twigs and leaves and has an iconic mask made of pinecones.
It’s a fun way to ring in the new year and drive away any bad luck from the past year.
In addition to a weird New Year’s tradition, the Swiss also have something that the rest of the world has – fireworks.
No matter where you are in Switzerland, you are sure to find an amazing firework display to ring in the New Year.
All cities have beautiful fireworks, but the ones that delight the most are located in Zurich, Geneva, and Bern.
In Zurich, the performance is launched from the city’s tallest building, the Swiss Re Tower. The display is so big and bright that it can be seen from anywhere in the city.
Read about things to do in Zurich.
On the other hand, in Geneva, the fireworks are launched from a barge on Lake Geneva. The reflections of the fireworks on the water make for a truly magical experience.
And in Bern, the fireworks are launched from the bear pit in the city’s ancient bear park.
So if you’re looking for an unforgettable way to celebrate the New Year, be sure to check out one of Switzerland’s amazing cities.
The most interesting and perhaps a little bizarre New Year’s traditions in Switzerland are ahead of you.
So, if you are looking for a fun and unique way to spend your holidays, you can’t go wrong with Switzerland.
In Switzerland, even cheese has special powers.
There is a belief that sleeping with a wheel of cheese will ward off demons and bring good luck.
People in Switzerland and outside are talking about it, but it has not been officially confirmed as true anywhere. So until we know more, it will remain just a myth or mystery.
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