Swiss have borrowed a surprising degree of discipline for the festive season

Using the country being the corner post of 3 unique cultures - French, German, and Italian - Christmas in Switzerland combines a number of the traditions of all 3 nations even though also introducing some that are uniquely Swiss.

From the French, the Swiss have borrowed a surprising degree of discipline for the festive season. In France, while Father Christmas is dishing out presents towards the excellent youngsters, he is accompanied by "the whipping father", who offers the naughty children a sound thrashing. For the duration of Christmas in Switzerland, St Nicholas is accompanied by Schmutzli, who serves the identical function.

As with the Italian celebrations, Christmas in Switzerland is based heavily about the scene with the Nativity. This was truly invented in Italy in the request of St Francis of Assisi and remains very preferred in Central and Western mainland Europe. The Yule log, which is traditionally burned in Italy for the 12 days of Christmas, can also be a popular tradition for the Swiss.

When markets are typical across most European nations throughout the festive season, they are particularly frequent in Germany and most common Christmas markets generally possess a slightly German feel to them. As a result of the massive German-speaking population within the country, markets have also come to be an essential part of Christmas in Switzerland, with various big arrays of stalls in all the main cities and even in a few of the smaller towns.

On the other hand, some Swiss traditions are one of a kind towards the country. After attending midnight mass, on Christmas Eve, the Swiss share hot chocolate and huge, homemade doughnuts ("ringli"), in contrast to the Italians who've their primary meal at this point. You can find also ceremonies like the Klausjagen ("the chase of St Nicholas") - a torchlit procession by way of the extra Catholic places from the country - that are quite unlike any celebration in any other country.