If you have seen the movie “Christmas Carol”, you will see in it a typical Swiss winter scene. Somewhere there is a charcoal stove next to the house to warm your hands when the weather turns cold, sometimes there are carts of hot and fragrant chestnuts or simply a small bakery right at the crossroads.
1. From the sparkling night markets
I was lucky to arrive in Switzerland on the day the Christmas markets start operating. Christmas markets here usually open in the evening. While Zurich starts the Christmas season with a night of light displays from November 17, Montreux and Lausanne will decorate and open their night markets on November 21. Normally, the festive season will last until the end of December.
In Zurich, they will choose the Swiss National Museum as the venue for the light show. Stories about Christmas Eve and cheerful music will be projected on the ancient wall outside the museum. For me, the light festival is not only the first feeling of the approaching Christmas atmosphere but also an indescribable feeling of excitement before the beautiful scene appearing before my eyes.
When somewhere the familiar Christmas tunes “Jingle bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the way” ring out, a sense of peace fills the soul.
Bao Khuyen
In Montreux and Lausanne, people prepare Christmas markets more elaborately than in Zurich, with small wooden houses neatly arranged on a busy street. While Montreux chooses the shores of Lake Leman as the center of the market, Lausanne chooses the area around the city cathedral to start the festive season.
This market usually has a few dozen small stalls, with similar designs but the decoration depends on the aesthetic taste of the stall owner. However, these stalls all become brilliant and eye-catching when night falls.
There is a counter that serves only mulled wine—not the finest, but still delicious served hot. It’s usually red wine with a touch of cinnamon, sometimes fruit and herbs. Other counters may have jewelry, warm clothes, souvenirs, chocolate, or just melted cheese—a Swiss specialty.
2. Go to the temporary markets warmed by the sun
But Switzerland is not all about night markets. If you go out at 9am, you will see spontaneous markets lining the streets. They are called spontaneous markets because they are not fixed in any particular location, nearby people will bring their own farm produce and food to display on a stall and sell until noon.
Unlike seasonal Christmas markets, this one is open every day. In Zurich, you’ll find stalls along the picturesque Limmat River. In Lausanne, you’ll find them spread across small streets, even in front of famous fashion stores.
The morning market has a bustling and somewhat hurried atmosphere. Usually, people quickly choose the items they like and go home to prepare lunch, never leisurely and leisurely like when immersing themselves in the evening market.
At this market, you will find all kinds of beautiful fresh vegetables but during Advent days, you will also see countless flower stalls with Christmas wreaths woven by the owners. Just pick one and hang it outside the door, Christmas has come to your home!
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