Every 31 December and 13 January, bizarre and fantastical figures rove the hinterland of the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Some wear ornate headdresses, others grotesque masks. These are the “Silvesterkläuse” that usher out the old year and ring in the new. The custom derives its charm from the unique blending of contrasts such as nature and art, mystery and tradition, and harmony and anarchy.
There are three types of Kläuse: the ‘pretty’, the ‘ugly’, and the ‘pretty-ugly’. The Schöne (pretty) , as their name suggests, are beautiful and richly ornamented. They wear velvety britches or skirts that are similar to traditional costumes. Over their faces, they wear plain masks with red cheeks. Perched on each Schöne head is a large, flat hat on which scenes from everyday life are depicted with carved figures. All of this is embellished with thousands of glass beads. The groups, known as Schuppel in the Appenzell dialect, sew and carve the decorative elements of the costumes themselves.The appearance of the Wüeschte (ugly), shown here, is no less elaborate. They wear fearsome masks and outfits covered with hay, straw, fir twigs and other natural materials. The Schö-wüeschte (pretty-ugly) are a mixture of the other two types. They too are clad in natural materials, but their garb is arranged in elaborate patterns. As with the Schöne, they may also wear carved figures on their heads. Common to all the Kläuse are the bells in various shapes and sizes that they wear about their bodies.
The Silvesterklausen ritual begins early in the morning. In Urnäsch, the various Schuppel meet on the village square before each group goes its own way. When they arrive in front of a house, the Kläuse jump up and down to make their bells ring. Then they start singing a Zäuerli, a type of natural yodel. The Kläuse then wish the family of the house a happy new year, and are given a gift of something to drink, which is served to them through their masks using a straw.
Textual sources: NationalMuseum.ch
