DER ANDERMATTER Winter 2017

In the dead of night, two peculiar figures make their way from Gurschenwald to Andermatt.
They have long beards and robes. One is dressed entirely in brown, with a fierce face;
the other’s features are framed by grey hair, a red cape and a large bishop's mitre. A little
bell rings with every step and a lantern swings in time. Just a few steps behind follow
five similar pairs – but with blue, green, yellow, purple and white cloaks.
It is 6 December, shortly before 6 pm. Father Christmas, known in Switzerland as “Sami chlaus”,
and his companion “Schmutzli” move through the entire village in solemn procession.
The children in Andermatt wait with excitement. The traditional bell bearers – known as
“Tryychler” – are all set to join the procession. And a few donkeys are waiting too, ready to
play their part. The Andermatt people line the streets, awaiting the start of the
annual spectacle with great expectation. The Santa Claus procession is a custom that
involves everyone – the old and the young – ringing in the festive season.
Nuts, gingerbread and chocolate
This celebration in remembrance of St Nicholas has a long tradition in strongly Catholic
regions. Until the start of the 19th century, however, it took a completely different form:
in the “Klausjagen” or “Nicholas Chase”, it’s not Santa Claus and his companion Schmutzli
who take to the streets, but a crowd of people in costumes, carrying loud instruments.
This was much to the disapproval of the authorities, who felt the masquerade offended
moral standards and repeatedly tried to impose a ban. In the end they were successful.
In contrast to other parts of central and eastern Switzerland, the Nicholas Chases
disappeared from Uri completely. The tradition in its current form took root from around
1900, with the main focus shifting to giving gifts to the children. So Santa Claus and
Schmutzli now visit the families in the village after their solemn procession, praising the
little ones for their good deeds – and chiding them for any bad behaviour. Then there
is a little sack of nuts, gingerbread and chocolate for each child.
The Santa Claus tradition is maintained in many places in Uri by associations committed
to upholding the custom. In Andermatt, it falls to the St. Nikolaus Organisation with its
12 members – six Santa Clauses and six Schmutzlis. A few weeks before the ceremonial
procession they are busy in the village, collecting donations from all the homes and
checking who would like a visit from Santa Claus and his fierce companions at the start
of December.
WER WAR DER HEILIGE NIKOLAUS?
WHO WAS ST NICHOLAS?
Gemäss Überlieferung wurde der heilige
Nikolaus um das Jahr 270 als Kind wohlhabender
Eltern in Griechenland geboren.
In der ersten Hälfte des 4. Jahrhunderts
wirkte er als Bischof von Myra in der
heutigen Türkei. Zahlreiche Legenden
ranken sich um ihn: So soll er unter anderem
drei fahrende Studenten, die auf ihrer Reise
von einem Wirt ermordet und in einem Fass
eingepökelt wurden, wieder zum Leben
erweckt haben. Dieses Wunder machte den
Bischof zum Patron der Kinder und Schüler.
An seinem Namens- und Gedenktag, am
6. Dezember, werden die unterschiedlichsten
Bräuche gepflegt. Sie alle haben in der Regel
etwas mit Kindern, Bescherung und vielfach
auch mit ein wenig Klamauk zu tun.
According to tradition, St Nicholas was born in
Greece in the year 270 as the child of wealthy
parents. In the first half of the fourth century,
he was Bishop of Myra in the region that is now
part of Turkey. Numerous legends surround
him. Among them is the story of three travelling
students, murdered on a journey by an innkeeper,
their bodies preserved in a pickling
barrel: legend has it that he brought them back
to life. This Bishop became the patron of
children and students as a result of this miracle.
A wide variety of traditions are commemorated
on 6 December, his Saint's day and commemoration
day. They are usually all related to children
and giving presents – and often involve a
little tomfoolery.
Laut erklingen die «Triichlä». The traditional “Triichlä” bell bearers ring loudly.
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