The Rural Voice, 1980-12, Page 11Christmas Festivities in Switzerland
BY DONNA THEIL
Christmas is a glorious time to the
Swiss. They celebrate the birth of Christ
in a quiet yet joyful way. In Switzerland
all the church bells ring for a quarter of
an hour on Christmas eve.
Richard and Trudy Munz are from
Switzerland and their Christmas festivit-
ies in many respects are from the old
country. Their children are all married
and have children of their own. But at
Christmas, the family joins together as
they have in years past. The old traditions
are alive among the Swiss in Perth
County and the surrounding area.
Christmas time begins for the Swiss on
the sixth of December.
Saint Nicholas was a kind and generous
bachelor who gave the village children
apples and nuts if they promised to be
good. This three weeks made near angels
even of pranksters. In Canada, Saint
Nicholas visits the children and leaves a
sack of apples and nuts at the front door.
After this visit, the children try to be
better.
The excitement builds as the family
prepares for Christmas. There is a
Christmas wreath which has four candles
around the outside. Each candle is lit.
one each of the Advent Sundays before
Christmas. Another way to prepare is to
make at least one handmade gift for each
member of the family. Baking is another
job that makes the house full of delicous
smells. Several different kinds of cookies
are made with care and love and are not
made at any other time of the year. The
Christmas decorations are also made
from fir bows which are decorated with
bows, cones and Christmas balls.
A FAMILY TIME
Christmas eve is a family evening.
Only the immediate family celebrate
this night together. In Switzerland, the
stores close and everyone goes home to
prepare for the evening. At six, all the
church bells ring for a quarter of an hour.
This is where the Christmas carol "We
hear the bells of Christmas ring "
originated
"In Canada, the Swiss can hear the
bells when they close their eyes and
remember days gone by. The Munz
family reads the story of the birth of
Christ from the book of Luke." says
Trudy Munz.
"With the candles to Tight the room,
supper is very festive, with the best linen,
cutlery and crystal being used. The meal
varies with the family preferences.
These dishes are not usually served at
any other time of the year."
The fir tree is decorated with balls and
candles and is not seen until Christmas
eve. The lighted candles make the tree
a glorious sight. The presents under the
tree are given out after carols and stories
are told. The whole family joins in, even
to smallest member. Christmas Day, the
grandparents and other family members
join together. The meals for the day
continue to be very festive and the
celebrations last until the sixth of
January. On this day, the tree is lit for
the last time, The New Year has arrived
and everyone is ready to relax.
In Perth County, one tradition is the
Forest Christmas. This is usually held
after the second Advent Sunday. A path
among the trees is lighted with candles
into Stafford Johnston's bush. At the
end of the lighted path is a fir tree
decorated with lit candles. Around the
spectacular sight carols are sung and
poems and stories read. It is enjoyed by
everyone from adults to children. This is
the way the Swiss soldiers spent
Christmas even during the war. With the
• candles in their gear they could Tight up a
fir tree and remember their loved ones at
home, so far away." said Trudy Munz.
"This is not a tradition we do in
Canada but is done on the shortest day of
the year in Switzerland. On the eve of
December 21st, in a mountain village of
Davos in Switzerland , the children,
dressed in white, carry a gold star and
sing to beg the light to come back. The
children are known as the Star Children,"
Mrs. Munz says.
In the village of Schuls Tavasp,
Switzerland, the children do something
quite unusual for luck. Dried walnuts are
cut in half and soaked in oil. Then a small
wick is attached to the nut. In a huge
fountain, the lighted walnut halves are
set afloat to bring good luck for the New
Year. "This is a beautiful sight to see at
night." said Trudy Munz.
The traditions of Switzerland are very
sacred to Trudy and Richard Munz. The
young are now carrying on the old ideas
and ways. They celebrate Chirstmas as a
glorious day that Christ was born in a
quiet yet joyful way. After all this is what
Christmas is really all about.
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THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1980 PG. 9