Exciting New Year's events

A Silvesterklaus is a masked person taking part in Saint Sylvester's Day festivities in Appenzell, and thus contributing to maintain the Chlausen tradition. Three different types of Silvesterchläuse can be distinguished. The Schöne (Beautiful), the Schö-Wüeschte (Pretty-Ugly) and the Wüeschte (Ugly). Saint Sylvester, or New Year's Eve, is commemorated twice, once according to the Gregorian calendar on 31 December and again according to the Julian calendar on 13 January. If 31 December or 13 January falls on a Sunday, the ceremony is celebrated on the preceding Saturday.

At the Silvesterlauf, Zurich shows itself from its most attractive side. In various categories and over distances ranging between 1.6 km (1 mile) and 10 km (6 miles), participants of all ages run through the festively lit and decorated city center. This spectacular race has established itself as the largest public sporting event in Canton Zurich, and every year the athletes are cheered on by countless fans, comprising friends and family. Although the run is called «Silvesterlauf» (New Year’s Eve run), it usually takes place in the first half of December. This year on December 11, 2022.

Other New Year's Eve runs take place on New Year's Eve. For example, the world's largest, which stands for sport and party. It is called San Silvestre Vallecana, covers 10 kilometers and takes place in the Spanish capital Madrid with over 20,000 participants. The oldest and second-largest race of this kind in the world starts every year in the Brazilian city of São Paulo with 13,000 participants. The length of the running course has been changed several times throughout history and was set at 15 kilometers in 1991.

Achetringele is Laupen’s tradition of celebrating winter solstice. For centuries on New Year’s Eve at 8 p.m., two groups of boys would descend from the Laupen castle to the old town. The first group, called Bäsemanne and Blaateremannli (broom men and bladder men), are a mischievous bunch: concealed with scary wooden masks and armed with brooms and inflated pig bladders. The group that follows, called Glöggler (bell ringers), are dressed in white gowns. To purge evil spirits, it is their duty to ring the cow bells that are strapped around their waists. The noisy spectacle is difficult to describe - and is best experienced firsthand!

The Times Square Ball is a ball that has been lowered from a flagpole on the roof of New York's One Times Square skyscraper every year since 1907. Called the «Ball Drop», this ceremony begins 60 seconds before the New Year and is one of the highlights of U.S. New Year's Eve celebrations. The ball, manufactured by Waterford Crystal, is a geodesic sphere with over 32,000 light-emitting diodes. The version used since 2008 has a diameter of 3.7 meters and a weight of 5,386 kilograms.

Fancy excursions and events around flowers and plants? You can find cool tips HERE.