Swiss Christmas Traditions

There are lots of really fun Christmas traditions here in Switzerland.  And, since this is already our second Christmas here, we had a much better understanding of many of them.

We took the opportunity again this year to go candle dipping in the little town where Elise and Nathan go to school.  It is so much fun!  You start with a string, and just start dipping in all the different colors of hot wax (dipping the candle in cold water between to cool it off and help the wax harden).

We went in early December, and it was already the last week it was open in our community.  We all made some pretty cool creations (We went on a Thursday after school and I wanted to make one too, so Mer sat in her stroller drinking her bottle and being fairly patient)!

Sammichlaus comes on December 6th here in Switzerland.  Children leave there shoes outside and Sammichlaus leaves something for them (or, Schmutzli leaves something not so nice, depending on how naughty the kid has been).  Sammichlaus didn't miss our house!

Grittibänz is a traditional bread that is made in Switzerland at Christmas time (a bit like Gingerbreadmen, but made out of bread).  William made them at preschool, and Nathan also made a giant one at school (Nathan ate his before we got a photo).
We went to our ward party in a Waldhutte - translated as "forest hut", but it's anything but a hut.  They have these all over the country, in all the forests, and they are amazing.  They are super, super nice cabins with great kitchens and all the amenities.  And, they are really in the forest!  This one was in Bremgarten, and we got there before it was dark to help set up, but I wouldn't want to be looking for it on my own in the dark!

Sammichlaus came to visit, and he had a book with lots of information about every child.  The Swiss kids recite something to Sammichlaus that they learn in school.  And Elise and Will even dressed up for the nativity scene (Elise was Mary, Will was a sheep, and Nathan wasn't interested).

The whole thing was so fun, and such a great Swiss tradition.  What a great opportunity to participate in these traditions with our church community.