The Swiss tradition of Silvesterchläusen dates back more than 600 years, and is still alive today in Canton Appenzell in Switzerland. Here in New Glarus, America’s Little Switzerland, the tradition began in 2022, and held its second annual event on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. The local group, Zuckerfluss Schuppel, named after the Sugar River, is the only one outside of Switzerland to hold the customary event. An individual performer is called a Chläus, while the group is a Schuppel.

The tradition is named for Saint Sylvester and is traditionally held on Dec. 31 or Jan. 13 — New Year’s Eve in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Pope Sylvester I is a saint, and served as pope from 314-335 CE. He died on New Years Eve.

The Silvesterkläuse put on strange costumes, ring bells and yodel while walking from house to house, wishing people a happy new year. 

Traditionally, there are three different types of Silvesterchläuse costumes: The Schöne (Beautiful), the Schö-Wüeschte (Pretty-Ugly) and the Wüeschte (Ugly). All adult characters wear a mask. In New Glarus, only the Wüeschte was worn, with the costume nature-based, with green moss, gnarled branches and bells to ring in the new year and scare away evil spirits.