Samichlaus and Schmutzli don’t visit Swiss children on a flying sleigh from the North Pole but rather arrive pulling a donkey through the snow from their mountain cottage. These days, Schmutzli has all but retired from corporal punishment, preferring to spend his time silently assisting Samichlaus in distributing sweets to children.
Is the traditional Schmutzli still popular in Switzerland?
At a Samichlaus parade in Bern’s old town on the last Saturday of November he helped hand out gifts of gingerbread and mandarins to the assembled hordes. There is evidence though that in more conservative parts of the country the traditional Schmutzli is still alive and well.
What happened to Schmutzli in A Christmas Carol?
Thankfully, these days, Schmutzli has retired from corporal punishment and prefers to spend his time silently assisting Samichlaus in distributing gifts to the children. Although Schmutzli is no longer a character to be feared by children, he remains mysterious and brings a touch of trepidation whenever he is seen alongside Samichlaus.
What does Schmutzli look like?
With long and unkempt hair, Schmutzli’s appearance is a stark contrast to the saint-like Samichlaus. The name ‘Schmutzli’ derives from the Swiss German word for dirty and he certainly lives up to the name’s connotation; Schmutzli often carries a broom, a whip of sticks, and a large sack wherever he goes.
Is Samichlaus Saint Nicholas?
Saint Nicholas is the inspiration for the Santa Claus character popular in many countries that celebrate Christmas. However, unlike the fat jolly Coca-Cola inspired Santa with red rosy cheeks, Samichlaus is traditionally wearing canonical robes similar to a Catholic saint.
How can novagraaf help you?
With 18 offices across six European countries and (representative) offices in China, Japan and the US, Novagraaf has a unique global network of specialists and can answer any of your questions about IP wherever you are in the world. Click here to download directions. Click here to download directions.
Why choose novagraaf as your IP partner?
For more than 130 years, Novagraaf has been helping iconic brands and innovative organisations around the world to power their competitive advantage by delivering a connected IP perspective. We had a vision for a new and more innovative IP partner.
