Instant Christmas

For a couple of weeks now we have seen signs of Christmas around town. The grocery stores have chocolates and Christmas plants for sale, the farmer's markets have wreaths and arrangements, the chocolate shops are selling candy bags for St Nicholas Day. And there have been some decorations like little trees here and there or Christmas shop windows.

But last night was the real deal. S, the littles, and I left the house at 5:00 just as the first snow was starting to fall. We met E and R in front of the Bretzelkönig stand at Stadelhofen station. In front of the station was a big new hot drinks stand in the shape of a lit up Christmas pyramid, complete with spinning fan.

From there we took the tram to Bahnhofstrasse, where a crowd had gathered. There were very few signs of why the crowd was there, though, hanging out in the street under umbrellas. Here and there were some unusual sights: a small hot drinks stand manned by Santa, a gospel choir, and a couple of tv news vans. Then, at six o clock it happened. Just as all the church bells were ringing the lights went on in Zurich. The Christmas lights strung across Bahnhofstrasse turned on starting at the station and moving toward Bürkliplatz. (We were at Paradeplatz next to Sprüngli, of course.) But it was more than just the street lights. All of the buildings lit up with their Christmas lights for the first time this season, and all of the side streets lit up with their lights, too. Christmas trees lit up. And all of the stores stayed open late (meaning past 5 or 6) for Christmas shopping.

BEFORE

AFTER

I thought this was cool. Instead of lights, a projected image.

The circle also rotated.

Each of the gift boxes had a little scene inside. 

For example, one had a scene of antique tin toys.

E took the littles home, but the girls and I shopped. We went to Sprüngli first. The flagship store has everything, and it isn't convenient for us to go there, so this was our best chance to see everything and decide whether there was anything seasonal we absolutely couldn't miss. Also, it's fun to see the packaging and the different gingerbread cookies. We bought a few of their seasonal macarons in pink grapefruit and cinnamon. We also got a dark chocolate bar with candied spiced almonds.

These breadmen are everywhere. These particular ones from Sprungli.

We also stopped in at Coop. At the door was a woman dressed as an angel spinning a prize wheel. On the second floor there was on open wine bar and dj squeezed in between home goods. We continued up to the toy section to shop for the littles and then bought a gold deer Christmas decoration which looked slightly junky in the store but looks absolutely perfect in the living room.

By then we were getting tired, wet, and cold, so even though we went into H&M the girls didn't give me much time to shop. I was a little disappointed. It's pretty impossible to shop with the littles during the day and I need clothes very badly. I did find a sweater, but what I really need are pants and something to wear on Christmas. R needs shoes, so I guess she and I will have to make time to go back.

From there we went to Globus department store food hall. I was looking for pastry dough so I wouldn't have to make my own pie crust for Thanksgiving dinner. However, while we were there we were told the food hall was closing. We left, but in retrospect wondered if we had misunderstood and it was only the fish counter closing. It will be too late for the pie crust, but we have to go back there, too, because the girls went crazy when they saw something they love and want - Bordier butter. They developed a taste for it in Paris and were thrilled to see it again. S asked, "Now where are we going to get a baguette and some good jam?"

After we were chased out of Globus (I wonder now if it was because of how I was dressed, but that's probably paranoid) we walked through the little park in front which had some stands set up.  There was some silver jewellery in a stand outside of Globus that was just beautiful. R even asked if she could get her ears pierced. I've always told her she could when she was thirteen, so I had to say yes. Then we went back to Bahnhofstrasse where radio Zurich was playing very loud disco music and up to the station. There it was the first night of the indoor Christmas market. Since our train was coming we didn't have much time to browse. But we did see the enormous tree covered in Swarovski crystal ornaments. R got a samosa, we saw some really cute wooden toys, and there was more silver jewellery and scarves and baked goods, and candles. Just all sorts of things. I love having the market there because we often arrive at the station with twenty minutes or so until our train, which runs twice an hour.

E had trouble with the stroller