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Silvesterchlausen is an ancient New Year’s celebration from Appenzell, Switzerland. St. Sylvester’s Day (called Silvester in Switzerland) is New Year’s Eve, and is still observed on the old date from the Julian calendar, January 15th.

The event is a procession through town filled with yodeling, bells, and garish costumes. The costumes, called Groscht, are nature-based and adored with bells to “ring in” the new year. Silvesterchlausen songs are a specific type of yodel, called Zäuerli. Zäuerli have no words and are filled with improvised harmonies. They are passed down witho...