Traditions Santa Claus is very popular in German-speaking Switzerland
Santa Claus is an integral part of the Advent season in German-speaking Switzerland. According to a survey, 86 percent have celebrated the tradition at least once. In most cases, this involves a personal encounter - and tangerines, nuts and chocolate in the Santa Claus bag.
04.12.2025, 00:01
SDA
When Santa Claus is celebrated, it is usually at home (38 percent) or away from home, for example in the forest (40 percent), according to the survey by market research institute YouGov. Only 17% of people celebrated without Santa Claus.
If Santa Claus comes by, the children receive a small bag in 9 out of 10 cases. And the contents of the bag have also followed a very clear tradition for 70 years: according to a large majority, it contains mandarins, nuts and chocolate. Gingerbread and Tirggel, a honey cookie that is particularly popular in the canton of Zurich, are also very popular.
However, according to the survey, modern sweets have also crept into the mix in recent years: Just under half now put biscuits in their Santa Claus bags, while a fifth also include chewing gum and sweets.
Many Swiss people also have experience with the personification of Santa Claus: 18 percent of respondents have already played Santa Claus at least once, 28 percent of men and 8 percent of women.
In French-speaking Switzerland, the tradition is less widespread overall: 62 percent said they had already celebrated the event. For the survey, 1037 people in Switzerland were questioned between 19 and 25 November and the results were weighted.
