It is 8:15 p.m. on December 5, and the lights go out in Küssnacht (German-speaking Switzerland). Geiselklöpfer (Peitschenschwinger/cracker of whips) keep the onlookers at a respectful distance as the parade with 1,300 men slowly moves through the streets which are lined with 30,000 onlookers.

"Iffelen" (from Inful = Bishops hat), many of them weighing 12-14 kg and lit from the inside, are carried on the heads by a whole section of the paraders. These bishops hats must have an image of St. Nikolaus on the front and the cross and the initials IHS on the back. The rest of the decoration is left to the individual builder. St. Nikolaus with mitre and bishops staff walks majestically while his "Schmutzlis," faces blackened with soot and in dark robes, dance around him. Trumpets blow the "Klausenmelodie," consisting of three tones, and "Tricheln" (huge cow bells) follow in rhythmic step. The rear of the train is brought up by the horn blowers. All of the paraders are members of the Küssnacht St. Nikolaus Society.

We are getting a glimpse into the workshop of two Iffelen builders and watch them design, cut and chisel out of heavy card board, their pieces of art. With painstaking care transparent colored paper is glued on the back. When lit from the inside they give the feeling of stain glass windows. One week prior to the parade the Iffelen are displayed in the church.

At app. 10:15 p.m., after two hours, the train disperses and participants as well as onlookers move into the inns and restaurants for the customary Klausen-meal, ribs with Sauerkraut.

In the general meeting of the St. Nikolaus Society before the parade, Klausenjäger picked up their neckerchiefs, unless they already have one from past years. Little gifts were prepared for the children's parade.

At exactly 2:15 p.m. the children parade thru the streets, with St. Nikolaus and the Schmutzlis, who dole out little gifts. The "Iffelen" were made by the children themselves in school or kindergarten.

Werner Mezger explains the history and legends surrounding St. Nikolaus, Bishop of Myra. The Saint is usually depicted with three golden apples. Legend has it that he gave gold to poor young girls as a dowry. This established him as a gift-giver. Another legend has him restore three young boys to life and health. It established him as the friend of children and young people. St. Nikolaus is also known as the tamer of devils and other evil spirits. One of them is Ruprecht (derived from "rauher Percht").

Interludes take us to Baden-Württemberg: 1. In Hirrlingen near Rottenburg (Tübingen), children collect and light a bonfire and, with their torches, walk with St. Nikolaus and his retinue. 2. In Unterentersbach in the Black Forest, young men prepare for the Klausenjagen. One of them is dressed as the Bickesel (picking donkey), with a dress of straw and cloth. As the group enters a home, St. Nikolaus reads from his golden book the children's good and bad deeds of the past year. 3. In Steinach, a village nearby, St. Nikolaus with his staff is accompanied by Santi Klaus with switches, the Rauhpelz with chains and the Klausenbicker. Each village has its own variation of these customs and traditions.

In the early morning hour, shortly after 5 a.m. we are again in Küssnacht where the parade once again is moving through the streets and disperses shortly after 7 a.m..

Ruth M. Reichmann
IUPUI Max Kade German-American Center

This is Video Order Nr. EB 51293. For those interested in learning about Fasnacht/Fasnet, or other folk customs, "Treffpunkt," a German Television Series of SDR/SWF that broadcasts half hour programs on folklore subjects, made videos of several of these celebrations. All videos are in color, and in German, app. 30 minutes. Available from the German Language Video Center,

www.germanvideo.com/
7625 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, IN 46226;
317-547-1257; FAX 1+3175471263

Return to Nikolaus' Helpers for further info and links