Every year on or around the 5th of December they hold an amazing parade in the dark, down a main street of the town of Kussnacht Am Rigi, Switzerland, that celebrates a mix of ancient pagan rites of chasing wild spirits and blessing the arrival of the season of St Nicholas. At sundown the crowds and participants arrive. The crowds line the sidewalks along the parade route where delicious bratwurst and schnapps are served. Somewhere on the backstreets of town loud bullwhips crack like gunfire. Soon the men reveal themselves with their long whips, dressed in costume roaming the street, cracking whips to clear the crowd.