On the evening before St. Nicholas' Day, at eight o'clock, over a thousand chasers gather in the village by Lake Lucerne. Each wears a white herdsman's shirt. At 20.15, a small cannon is fired and the street lights go out all over Küssnacht. The "Geislechlepfer" crack their whips and lead the procession. Behind them dance the Iffele carriers quietly. The Iffele are made of card and tissue paper and look like church windows. The builders can give their creativity almost free rein with the motifs and colours, and the size can also vary from half a metre to over two metres. The traditional images are the figure of St. Nicholas on the front side and a cross on the back and the letters JHS as another Christian symbol. Rosettes, ribbons and garlands complete the picture.

The streets echo with the ringing of heavy bells, carried by hand by strong men, the sound of horns and above all by strange triad rhythms of the brass music, to which the words "Mänz, Mänz, Mänz, Bodefridimänz" are sung. In the twenties, Clemenz (Mänz) Ulrich tried in vain to turn the custom of his times, which consisted of a wild chase after St. Nicholas by the village's young people, into something more civilised. Success was only achieved, however, by those who came after him, who in 1928 founded a society for the fostering and preservation of the Nicholas Chase. In its earlier and also present form, the custom gives signs of pagan origins, which are only just disguised by the inclusion of the holy St. Nicholas in the form of a bishop.

For further information go to: www.klausjagen.ch