Do Swiss people give gifts at Christmas?
Although it is on December 24 that children and grown-ups receive Christmas gifts in Switzerland, but Santa Claus makes his appearance earlier according to Swiss Christmas traditions! Actually Samichlaus (or Père Noël) comes on the 6th of December.
Samichlaus interviews the children on their behavior in the past year and tries to get a commitment for improvement for the year ahead. Then the traditional treats of lebkuchen, chocolates, peanuts and mandarins are delivered by the iconic pair.
Gift giving in Switzerland is very comparable to the Western World. If you receive a gift in person, it is customary to smile and thank the person. If you receive it in the mail, oftentimes it is tradition to call your recipient to let them know if has arrived and thank them.
Christmas markets are very popular in towns and cities where you can buy all kinds of Christmas foods and decorations. There are big light displays and you can enjoy some more hot Glühwein! There are many local traditions of parades and carol singing in Switzerland.
| Nation | Old man |
|---|---|
| Switzerland | St Nicholas (known as Samichlaus to German-speakers and San Nicolao to Italian), Père Noël (Father Christmas) for French-speakers |
| Syria | Papa Noël (Arabic: بابا نويل baba noel) |
| Taiwan | 聖誕老人 or 聖誕老公公 (Old Man of Christmas) |
| Tanzania | Baba Krismasi; Santa Claus |
Many families get together to celebrate, and everyone has a lot of fun. In addition, there are usually parades or processions where people carry lanterns made from paper or cardboard. Räbeliechtli is a fun and festive part of Christmas in Switzerland, and it's a tradition that everyone can enjoy.
An unspoken Swiss rule is that the guests should leave before midnight. If by chance you're invited to a dinner, keep this in mind. You should give the hosts the space to put things in order. Leave by thanking them and asking them for dinner at your place.
In Switzerland, the guest is not obliged to tip. In many restaurants, however, it is customary to pay a tip. This amounts to approximately 10 percent or it is rounded up to a round amount.
Inherently generous Swiss∙ses abroad
Almost all Swiss abroad make donations. Only 6% say they have never made a donation in the last three years, and more than half make regular donations. On average, Swiss abroad support one to two organizations a year, to the tune of between 50 and 499 Swiss francs.
Basel is one of Switzerland's prettiest Christmas destinations and hosts two Christmas markets.
What do they eat in Switzerland for Christmas?
The most popular choices for Christmas dinner are Filet im Teig (pastry wrapped pork fillet with sausage meat), Fondue Chinoise (meat fondue) or Schinkli im Teig (pastry wrapped hot ham) with potato salad.
Nicholas (so named after Nicholas of Myra, Patron Saint of children) comes to visit the children of Switzerland. This Swiss version of Santa Claus is called Samichlaus in the German-speaking part, and Saint-Nicolas in the French.
Swiss children memorise little verses and recite them when St Nicholas comes to visit. In return, he gives them oranges, chocolate, nuts, and some sweet gingerbread. Nowadays, Santa Claus has many different ways of getting around. In Fribourg, he sits on a donkey named Babalou.
But in german-speaking Switzerland, children agree that on Christmas Eve, 24 December, the Christkind (Christ Child) brings the gifts, and on 6 December Samichlaus, the Swiss Santa Claus, gives out mandarins, nuts and chocolates.
In Swiss villages like this, home windows serve as life-size Advent calendars — and like the paper calendar counterparts, one newly decorated Advent window is lit up every evening in a different house, building excitement as Christmas approaches. The debut of an Advent window often comes with a party.
White Christmases are unlikely but not impossible, says expert. However, the meteorologist explained that a white Christmas has become increasingly rare in the lowlands of Switzerland in recent years.
Panettone – Popular at Christmas and New Year. First produced by a Milanese baker in the early 20th century. Especially popular throughout Italian and French-speaking Switzerland.
Dog and cat meat are taboo in Switzerland, and horse meat is also taboo in Anglo-Saxon countries. If we were presented with a plate of dog ragout, we would almost certainly reject it outraged and disgusted.
If you're out in public, refrain from talking out loud. The Swiss don't like loud people and have a low tolerance for noise. Chewing a piece of gum may sound harmless, but it could get you mean stares from the locals. Swiss people see this act as rude, so it's best not to do it in public.
Respectful. Despite their respect for community rules and orderliness, Swiss people are also known for offering individual freedom, taking cleanliness very seriously, and paying great attention to their neighbors. You won't hear loud music after a certain hour.
Can you drink tap water in Switzerland?
The tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Switzerland, including fountains. If not, there will be a sign saying so. It tastes like, well, water. Many people I know prefer tap water to bottled water, it's healthier because it contains more elements and hence has a richer taste.
The most commonly accepted payment options are cash, credit cards and debit cards. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. The most common are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro.
Try to finish everything on your plate when dining in someone's home. It is impolite to leave food on your plate. When you are finished eating, place knife and fork side by side on the plate at the 5:25 position. Leave a party no later than midnight.
Switzerland is a Christian country. Two-thirds of its population are either Catholic or Protestant (Reformed Evangelical). Freedom of religion in Switzerland also allows other religious communities to practice such faiths as Judaism, Islam and Buddhism. Most people living in Switzerland are Christians.
According to the 2015 World Happiness Report, Switzerland topped the list of 158 nations ranked for the economic and scientific measures that are deemed to make people feel content, such as GDP per capita, social support, a healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, and generosity.
