Swiss special occasions
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
More than 18 religious groups claim members in the 6.7 million Swiss
population. By a slight majority, Protestants predominate.
The many festivities that dot the Swiss calendar focus on the change of
seasons, the movement of the cattle, planting and harvesting, and of
course religious celebrations. All have in common an abundance of good
food and a colorful flurry of regional costumes. Both Catholics and
Protestants celebrate Christmas with a variety of special cakes and
cookies but no special menu; the best that is available is served with
pride. In the German-speaking areas, Christmas Eve is celebrated with
gilts and a candlelit tree. Customs and ceremonies in each home may be
traced to either French, German, or Italian influences, together with
individual family preferences.
As in the Netherlands, the Swiss have no Santa Claus, but they do set
aside December 6 as the special evening when St. Nicholas brings fruits
and candies and small gifts to all deserving children, and for the naughty
ones only a switch! This holiday has no religious connotation and is
celebrated by almost everyone.
As in many other countries, Easter is celebrated with the fresh exuberance
of approaching spring: chocolate bunnies, colored eggs, special cakes and
cookies - as well as the sober rejoicing accompanying church services. The
many popular meatless dishes make Lent less of a hardship, and one of the
traditionally favorite dishes is basler mehlsuppe. This is a
typical "brown roux soup" prepared by browning flour in butter then adding water
to form a stock. Often little more than a bit of seasoning is added, and
in the case of the basler mehlsuppe the flavor is of bay leaf and cloves.
Celebrating the coming and passing of the seasons is a Swiss excuse for
more festivities. Effigies of "Winter" are joyously burned to hasten the
departure of the cold and to welcome the gentle warmth of spring. The end
of summer and the beginning of autumn is heralded with animals decorated
with garlands of flowers and people dressed in local or national
costumes. They gather in the towns to welcome the descent of shepherds and
their flocks from the high mountain pastures of summertime, happy that
they will be home for winter. Later in the fall season, the wearing of
golden sun masks on St. Martins Day (November 11) marks the beginning of
wintry days.