Silvesterklaus

Silvesterklaus in Schwellbrunn.
Silvesterkläuse in the Old Sylvester, 13 January 2010.

Silvesterklaus is a masked person taking part in Saint Sylvester's Day festivities in Appenzell, Switzerland, and thus contributing to maintain the Chlausen tradition. A Silvesterklaus or New Year's Mummer (Chlaus in Swiss German) is dressed up as a Saint Sylvester or New Year's Eve character. In the Reformed half-canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, the turn of the year is still celebrated in this way.[1] The Silvesterklausen is part of Switzerland’s intangible cultural heritage.[2]

  1. ^ "Wenn ein Schöner in den Regen kommt | NZZ". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  2. ^ Rechsteiner, Alexander. "Silvesterkläuse both beautiful and ugly", Swiss National Museum