Christmas Advent Day 10: The Singing Christmas Tree

Christmas Advent Day 10: The Singing Christmas Tree

I had heard about this singing Christmas tree on Werdmühleplatz from a few expats, so while we were wandering through Zürich on Sunday, amidst all the crazy Sunday shoppers (remind me to avoid that like the plague on the 21st!), we checked out the holiday music coming from the 40 foot tall tree.

The tree consists of 7 tiers of animatronic singers that are all perfectly tuned and timed and you can press a button and they sing one of 1000 songs.

And it was almost as good as Disney World. I mean look at the detail here... these robots are spot on... Zürich does a good animatroic singing tree, I'll tell you that.

Actually, I am just kidding. These aren't robots at all...... they are elves.

Ok so all joking aside... they are real people and they really sing and it was really good. On Sunday the group was from Baar and there are different choirs throughout December singing from the tree. Grab yourself some Glühwein and enjoy the show!

Seeking Swiss Buns...

Ok, sorry, I couldn't help myself with the post for this title, but perhaps you can help... here is Jenepher's question:

'I've written to your blog to see if anyone knows the recipe for a Swiss recipe, little sponge buns which are filled in the middle with creme patisserie and covered with chocolate icing. They look a bit like chocolate covered round doughnuts. I had them many years ago in Chateau'doex and my grandmother made them for a treat. She learned the recipe in Switzerland.'

Anyone know?

Christmas Advent Day 9: Adventskerzen

I probably should have posted about these on December 1st or 2nd but let's face it - without a photo it is worthless... WORTHLESS I TELL YOU!

Ok, I am ok now. This last weekend I got some nice shots of these babies and now it is time to share... announcing:

Christmas Advent Day 9: Adventskerzen (Advent candles)

These are pretty easy to get the hang of. Here are some directions just in case:
1. Buy Adventskerzen in the style and design of your liking.
2. Light the candle. If there are four candles, light a new one each new week of Advent on Sunday usually, if there is only one, well... just light it whenever you want!
3. Blow out. Rinse. Repeat.

I am particularly a fan of this one... I love the ones that have dried fruits and pine cones, too.

It is not too late, so if you still want an Adventskerzen go out and get one! You can find it out at the markets or at your local florist.

(Note: I have no idea how the first picture, the tree with all the candles works... meaning I don't think it is an actual Adventskerzen, but I liked it as a photo... so enjoy and please note that Swisstory does not promote fire hazards such as these so please light responsibly...)

Christmas Advent Day 8: Samiclaus Swim

Christmas Advent Day 8: Samiclaus Swim

On Sunday we had a great day taking Val, my MIL, around Zürich to all the Christmas markets and on our usual city tour, and at 2 pm I INSISTED that we go and see the Samiclaus Swim from the Pier 7 Restaurant at Schifflande to the women’s open-air bathing area at the Stadtquai...

Here is how the conversation went when I explained to Val what we were going to see:

Me: Ok, we HAVE to go to the Samiclaus Swim at 2 pm. Ok? So we will have lunch and then head to the swim.

Val: What is that?

Me: Well, a whole bunch of people are going to swim across the river in Santa Claus suits and it is going to be AWESOME.

Val: Oh my. Why are they doing that?

Me: Because they are CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYY.

Val: Won't it be cold?

Me: Um.......... IT IS INSANELY COLD. You could not pay me enough to do this myself... but it is going to be AWESOMEEEE. (Note, the temps were just above freezing yesterday!)

And it was. At 2 pm on the dot the first group of crazy Santas swam across the river, with Santa hats, some with suspenders, and with shrinking bits and all... even some women! It was especially interesting to see the style that the Santas used - some were quick in and quick out and some looked like they were in for a casual stroll across the Limmat, not daring put their faces into the water.

I love how the little Santa hats just bobbed across the river. ;)

As soon as they got to the other side, the swimmers quickly stumbled across the deck into warm blankets and hot towels. Boy these suspenders were something as well!

Then as soon as the swimmer picked up their kit, it was into the showers, into the saunas and into a hot cuppa something... boy, these rudoph hats were something as well.

There were plenty of spectators for this one, even on a cold and overcast day and I would definately recommend it for a bit of fun inbetween the Christmas markets. But where did Santa's packages go, eh? (Sorry, I had to get that in at least one more time...)

The Samiclaus Swim everyone... I don't think these men and women will be warm again for a long, long time... but it is a great Zürich Christmas tradition!

Christmas Advent Day 7: Berlinerbänze

I am so sorry, but I have been holding out on you. While you were enjoying the delights of St. Nikolaustag yesterday, eating your weight in Grittibänze, I too was doing the same, but with a Grittibänze of another art... the filled Berlinerbänze... part little man, part donut - 100% HEAVEN. (Click here for accompanying Homer donut noise... ;)

Here are some little Berlinerbänze men now, coming down the conveyor belt now.

After they are cool, they are stuffed with jelly or jam and set on these trays to waft delightful smells into the market air... here are two now getting their hot jam injection. Ok, maybe it wasn't hot, but I had to get in a Breakfast Club reference there. ;)

Happy 2nd Advent or 7th day of December everyone!

Christmas Advent Day 6: Grittibänze

Did St. Nikolaus visit you last night? Did he put nuts and clementines in your shoes or leave you some Grittibänze because you had been good this year?... Oh.. No...?! Funny that... me neither. ;)

Well here is a gift for all of you then:

Swiss Christmas Advent Day 6: A basket full of Grittibänze!

Early in December, the Swiss bake "little men", called Grittibänze', out of rich white bread dough, using raisins for eyes and hazelnuts for buttons. The little men usually live only for one day though, as their lives are usually abruptly ended by delighted children that tear greedily at their sweet, doughy limbs, eating them from bottom to top... that is if the little devils don't tear out and consume the little men's eyes first.

Wait a minute... is this Christmas or Halloween? Hmm. The history of these little men is still 'in the dark' (again... Halloween? nah...) but one thing is for sure - hundreds upon thousands of these babies are going to be consumed today, marking the arrival of St. Nikolaus. Enjoy!

Grittibänze details translated from this site. Here is also a recipe - in German.