Above: Schmutzli makes his entrance, summoned perhaps by the glowing tub of holy Vitalite.
In Switzerland, Santa Claus - known as Samichlaus - arrives on the 6th of December to give out oranges, nuts and chocolate to the good children. He is not alone, though, but accompanied by the sinister figure of Schmutzli. Schmutzli is dirty, dressed in rags and will beat the children if they have been bad - or even spirit them away in his sack.
Schmutzli and Samichlaus share a joke.
This year my Swiss Boyfriend and I staged a Samichlaus celebration for our friends. I played the good cop and he was the bad cop. Needless to say, this involved putting lots of stuff on him.
Bonus: If you want more Swiss Christmas traditions, I also found this video on the Klausjagen (St Nicholas chase) that takes place in Kuessnacht on the night before Samichlaus.
Yes, this was a Christmas-themed post in the middle of March...
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