Swiss Santa

Fred: Hi, Anja. So, you're from Switzerland, right?

Anja: Yes, I am.

Fred: Oh, I was wondering because I was reading recently and I was wondering what were the traditions of Santa Claus in Switzerland?

Anja: Yes, they are quite different I guess from the rest of like America or Canada, because in fact we don't have Santa Claus bringing the Christmas, the presents, on Christmas.

Fred: You don't have a Santa Claus bringing presents?

Anja: Yeah, that's right. Like, we do have Santa Claus but he's coming on the sixth of December.

Fred: The Sixth of December! But us it's the 25th of December.

Anja: Yes, that's right.

Fred: Oh, wow, that's really different.

Anja: Yeah, indeed. Like Santa Claus will bring you presents but it's more like little like presents of nuts or mandarins, or little chocolates.

Fred: So he's bringing fruits for Christmas?

Anja: Yes, that's right.

Fred: Oh, OK.

Anja: Because, you know, Santa Claus, he's living in the forest so he....

Fred: Wait, wait, wait! Santa Claus lives in the forest. He doesn't live in the North Pole?

Anja: Yes, that's right. He lives in the forest.

Fred: Wow. OK.

Anja: With his little fellow that helps him, you know, collect all the fruits and nuts.

Fred: Are they elves?

Anja: No, no. It's just one guy, his friend, and it's a little bit difficult to say the name. You won't understand it. With him as his donkey. There's a donkey too. It helps him carry all the presents for the kids, so he will just come to the people's houses and ring a bell, and so, "I'm here."

Fred: He rings the bell?

Anja: That's right.

Fred: And he enters from the front door and then gives the gifts...

Anja: That's right.

Fred: Oh, he doesn't go through the chimney.

Anja: No, oh, yeah, that's right. He just enters the door like, the parents open the door, like, "Please come in" and the kids are usually hiding because they are really scared of Santa Claus. Oh, and one more thing, it's quite different, but like the Santa Claus, it's kind of a scary person because if you're actually bad, it's not only that you won't get presents, but he will also put you in a bag and take you away to the forest.

Fred: Santa Claus will put the in kids the bag?

Anja: Yes.

Fred: And then take them away?

Anja: Yes, if you were a bad boy or a bad girl he will do that.

Fred: Wow, that is something very different from our tradition in Canada. So who is the person that brings the presents on Christmas day?

Anja: Yes, that's a good point. Like we have an angel coming down from the heaven and bringing all the presents, actually, someone during the... at one point during the night.

Fred: An angel brings the presents on Christmas day and not Santa Claus, wow!

Anja: Yes.

Fred: I'm very surprised.

Anja: That's right.