New Year's Eve Spirits ( Silvesterchlausen )

New Year's Eve Spirits (DVD) (*)

~~$48.99~~ $42.97

Original Title: Silvesterchlausen
Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
German ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Switzerland ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
98 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2011 and produced in:
Switzerland ( Germany, Central Europe )

Directed By:
Thomas Rickenmann

Written By:
Thomas Rickenmann

Actors:
Thomas Rickenmann

Synopsis:

There are the 'beautiful' and there are the 'ugly.' And then there are the 'beautifully ugly.' They all evoke emotions. And it comes as no surprise that a former village doctor refers to the 'Silvesterchlausen' in the hinterland of Appenzell as the 'healthiest fever ever.' No one really knows where the custom comes from. But every year on December 31 and January 13, it touches the hearts of many people of all ages in the Appenzell region and beyond. The film tells of this virus, these emotions and traditions bridging the gap between several generations.

The tradition of the «Silvesterchlausen» (or New Year's Eve Spirits) is the most impressive winter custom in the hinterland of Ausserrhoden, i.e. in the communities of Urnäsch, Herisau, Hundwil, Stein, Waldstatt, Schwellbrunn and Schönengrund. For several years these festivities have also been taking place again on the Swiss plateau, especially in Teufen, and it now looks as though this old custom could be regaining lost ground. Today a clear distinction is more or less made between three types of «Chlausen» or spirits: the «wüeschte» or ugly, the «beautiful» and the «forest and nature» spirits. In the early morning hours on New Year's Eve, many people in «Chlause» costumes from Urnäsch set off to chase away the evil spirits from the old year. It is then common to ring the doorbell of a friend or member of the group and sing a type of traditional yodel, but without the mask and headdress.

Silvesterchlausen is an old tradition dating back to the middle-ages and originally practised on St. Nikolaus day. Hence the name. It is related in spirit to the fun surrounding carnival time, and the increasing wild nature of the practice in the 15th century caused it not only to be moved forward to after Christmas, but actually to be temporarily or permanently banned in several areas. The tradition has calmed down since those times, but has also evolved in several ways. Two of these were the introduction of new costume-themes. The original theme was the scary demon look, but in the mid-19th century, the 'Schöchläus' or 'Beautiful Chlausen' theme emerged and in 1960 the 'Schöwüescht' or 'Beautiful-Ugly'.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 06 July, 2012.