The Swiss Miss #7: Jamie Baumstark gets a taste of European Christmas before coming home

Salut from Switzerland,

As I had mentioned last time I wanted to share with you all the Christmas tradition and celebration that Switzerland does. I had heard from many people that Christmas is the most beautiful holiday in Switzerland and I didn't really know what they meant until I saw it for myself. 

It started in the middle of November, since they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, when they first began to build little houses all along the Central Platz in Biel. Then the big cedar christmas tree in the square was put up with big ball lights all over it. Then more and more stuff was put all around the streets and lights were hung up and down the main streets in Biel.....It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas and I couldn't get enough of the Christmas feeling. 

The Christmas market opened on a Saturday and you can bet that I woke up early to go and see all the neat things everyone had in their booths! I had heard so many people talk about the Gluewein (it is hot wine, like what we have back home) and Churros which are like doughnut sticks with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on them....they were way good!!!!!:) 

Some Swiss people decorate their trees a little bit differently then we do in the states. They use real candles on the tree rather then lights and some people use the sparklers that we use at the 4th of July to decorate their tree. I wanted to do our tree like the Swiss people do theirs so I got some candles and clips for tree. I also got some sparklers but sure enough I can't bring them on the plane so those are going to have to stay in Switzerland. 

It was such a warm feeling to go to the market and to hear the American Christmas music, it almost made me feel like I was back home! They also celebrate St. Nicholas day too on the 6th of December and we had a game that day and St. Nick came to the game to give us a bag full of goodies:) 

It finally snowed here a couple days ago but it hasn't really been that much snow but it sure has gotten cold!! I have been drinking A LOT of hot chocolate and tea. 

I went to Neuchatel again to visit my friend Rachel and to do some shopping for Christmas gifts. I didn't end up getting any gifts for anyone but I did come back with a big bag of candy and a nice cold American Root Beer. It was so delicious to have a Root Beer. Most of you may know that my family is very much into the healthy food craze so we didn't get to have much soda in the house AT ALL so you could imagine my excitement when I saw they had Root Beer. 

I am coming home to Hermann the 21st so I hope I will see some of you in town! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year and I will write to you when I get back into Switzerland on the 5th of January.

Au Revoir,
     Jamie Baumstark