Christmas Gift Giving Customs in Switzerland
Christmas is the biggest celebration of the year in Switzerland. Families gather for a large meal and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, then relax on Christmas Day. Friends visit each other on December 26.
Christmas Greetings in Switzerland
The week before Christmas, children dress up and visit homes with small gifts. Bell ringing has become a tradition, and each village competes when calling people to midnight mass to see whose bells ring the loudest. After the service, families gather to share huge homemade doughnuts called 'ringli' and a cup of hot chocolate.
Depending on the region, Christmas gifts are exchanged on:
- St. Nicholas Day, December 6th.
- Christmas Day, December 25.
- New Year's Day, January 1.
- Epiphany, January 6.