Christmas in Switzerland
"Joyeux Noel"
This is the French-speaking greeting in Switzerland but it could easily be given in Italian or German as Switzerland is made up of a mixture of people. When Christmas is coming Swiss children eagerly await the tinkling of a silver bell that heralds the arrival of Christkindli a white clad angel with a face veil held in place by a jewelled crown. The tree candles are lit as she enters each house and hands out present from the basket held by her child helpers.
The week before Christmas children dress up and visit homes for small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition and each village competes with the next when calling people to midnight mass. After the service families gather to share huge home-made doughnuts called ringli and hot chocolate. Christmas biscuits such as Brunsli, Mailanderli, Spitzbuebe and Zimtsterne are also very popular.
