{"id":1848365,"date":"2026-03-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1848365"},"modified":"2026-03-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:00:00","slug":"a-short-film-joins-in-the-timeless-swiss-masked-tradition-of-silvesterchlausen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1848365","title":{"rendered":"A Short Film Joins In the Timeless Swiss Masked Tradition of Silvesterchlausen"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/silvester-3.gif\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"A gif from a short film about Silvesterchlausen in Switzerland, featuring a man in a costume with huge bells and a headdress dancing with snowy mountains in the background\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of Andrew Norman Wilson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">A Short Film Joins In the Timeless Swiss Masked Tradition of Silvesterchlausen<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-26T09:51:26-05:00\">March 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-film\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/film\/\" rel=\"tag\">Film<\/a><a class=\"category-history\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/history\/\" rel=\"tag\">History<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F03%2Fsilvesterchlausen-film-switzerland-masks-costumes-andrew-norman-wilson%2F&amp;title=A%20Short%20Film%20Joins%20In%20the%20Timeless%20Swiss%20Masked%20Tradition%20of%20Silvesterchlausen\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-pinterest has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F03%2Fsilvesterchlausen-film-switzerland-masks-costumes-andrew-norman-wilson%2F&amp;description=A%20Short%20Film%20Joins%20In%20the%20Timeless%20Swiss%20Masked%20Tradition%20of%20Silvesterchlausen&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F03%2Fsilvester-3.gif\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-EV2G2DUk\" data-rl_title data-rl_caption title><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tPin\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"471887\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In communities throughout Switzerlands\u2019s Appenzell Hinterland and Midland regions, a unique tradition with enigmatic origins unfolds around the New Year. Known as <a href=\"https:\/\/appenzellerland.ch\/en\/inform\/typical\/silvesterchlausen.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Silvesterchlausen<\/a>, the custom entails a group of boys and men who don remarkable, handmade costumes with masks and headdresses that represent rural, wild, and natural scenes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1174047942?fl=pl&amp;fe=vl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Silvesterchlausen<\/a>,\u201d a dreamy short film by writer and director <a href=\"https:\/\/www.andrewnormanwilson.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andrew Norman Wilson<\/a>, highlights this regional seasonal event, which occurs on December 31 and January 13. The first date marks the turn of the new year on the Gregorian calendar, while January 13 denotes the same on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/Julian-calendar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Julian calendar<\/a>. The ornately dressed mummers, in groups of six, polyphonically yodel and ring bells. \u201cThe ritual has been performed for at least 500 years, but nobody knows how or why it began,\u201d Wilson says,<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Some of the performers\u2019 headwear resembles miniature parade floats, while otherworldly designs made from pinecones, mosses, grasses, and other organic items make some of them appear as though they have emerged directly from the earth. In small, tight-knit municipalities, the tradition is a rare instance of relative anonymity, as familiar residents disappear behind meticulously crafted garments.<\/p>\n<p>The performers, known as <em>Chl\u00e4use<\/em>, practice diligently for a month or so before the event, creating something of a \u201cChl\u00e4us fever.\u201d Boys form the groups and \u201ccontinue throughout their lives until the members are too old to withstand the physical toll of the 18 hour days,\u201d Wilson says, sharing that the participants build significant bonds.<\/p>\n<p>As New Year\u2019s Eve arrives, the mummers connect houses with a red string, literally and figuratively stitching connections within the community. Then, as the <em>Chl\u00e4use<\/em> move through villages and visit homes, local residents provide mulled wine to keep their bodies warm and spirits high.<\/p>\n<p>See the film on <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1174047942?fl=pl&amp;fe=vl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vimeo<\/a>, and find more of Wilson\u2019s work on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/andrewnormanwilson_actually\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>. If you\u2019re in the Upper Midwest, you can experience a taste of this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisstown.com\/events-ng\/silvesterchlausen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">annual tradition<\/a> in New Glarus, Wisconsin. You might also enjoy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2024\/08\/ashley-suszczynski-masked-traditions\/\">Ashley Suszczynski<\/a>\u2019s incredible and mysterious photographs exploring European masking rituals.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/silvester-1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471887\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/silvester-1.jpeg\" alt='A still from a short film about the Silvesterchlausen tradition in Switzerland featuring men wearing elaborate costumes and headdresses. Text at the bottom reads, \"We learned to sing these Z\u00e4uerli while milking cows growing up.\"' class=\"wp-image-471888\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/silvester-2.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471887\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/silvester-2.jpeg\" alt=\"A still from a short film about the Silvesterchlausen tradition in Switzerland showing a line of costumed men walking across a snowy hill. Text on the bottom reads, &quot;It's the only time we can disguise ourselves in this small village&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-471889\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/03\/charles-young-paper-miniature-architecture-models-sculptures\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All images courtesy of Andrew Norman Wilson A Short Film Joins In the Timeless Swiss Masked Tradition of Silvesterchlausen March 26, 2026 FilmHistory Kate Mothes Share Pin Email Bookmark In communities throughout Switzerlands\u2019s Appenzell Hinterland and Midland regions, a unique tradition with enigmatic origins unfolds around the New Year. Known as Silvesterchlausen, the custom entails [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1848365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1848365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1848365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1848365\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1848365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1848365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1848365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}