Klausjagen
klausjagen nicholas chase festival take place swiss town küssnacht eve st nicholas day festival attended year people consists parade around participant last far night procession believed root prechristian pagan tradition involving chasing wild spirit compare wild hunt early form klausjagen involved much unruliness noise frowned upon church authority officially outlawed could effectively suppressed late th century custom instead christianized bishop mitre first appeared procession still rather rough procession tamed committee villager created modern clearly organized parade since st nicholas society küssnacht responsible continuation custom procession organised six stage first come men cracking long twohanded sheep whip next come men wearing iffelen infuln enormous incredibly ornate paper hat resemble cross bishop mitre stained glass window lit inside candle much seven foot tall behind st nicholas four attendant black robe hood known schmutzlis hand pastry come brass band playing traditional klaus song followed large group ringing trycheln large bell descendant cow bell lastly entire procession followed men blowing cow horn participant watcher generally head celebration local tavern httpwwwklausjagench official klausjagen homepage pulse planet article pulse planet article