Swiss Style Halloween
Halloween Alternatives
Halloween
Switzerland's Alternatives
Halloween is growing in popularity in Switzerland as foreign traditions are slowly becoming more celebrated.
Today there are many places where you can pick-up a costume, including at your local supermarket. Your child can choose from characters including witches, vampires and skeletons.But do not mistakenly think that Halloween is now completely widespread. While trick-or-treating does exist, it is still not popular in several areas. Show up at the wrong door and your neighbour might wonder if your kids have gone completely mad!
So we have come up with some alternatives to put a Swiss spin to celebrating Halloween.
TRICKS
Eerie Echoes of the Underworld
Feel like going beyond the confines of earth? Go to hell(ishly) named spots around Switzerland. You can hike through the Schöllenen Gorge to see the Devil’s Bridge in Canton Uri or explore the Hell Grotto caves in Canton Zug. Pitchforks not included!
A Creepy Chapel and a Menacing Museum
Hold on to your… head! The Leuk Charnel House in Canton Valais is a chapel that has a wall of skulls 20 meters long. And if you’re interested in all things hocus-pocus, there is even a Witch Museum in Canton Aarau
TREATS
Bewitching Bathtime Fun
Celebrate Halloween anytime and anywhere – even when taking a bath at home. Lush has launched a vegan Halloween collection of bath bombs, soaps and even shower slime to help your child get into the fun side of Halloween!
Räbeliechtli Rituals
Traditionally, we sculpt into big, sweet pumpkins to make jack o’ lanterns for Halloween. But your kids can also carve lanterns out of tasty turnips for Räbeliechtlicelebrations that occur in November. Join the parades and festivals in towns throughout Canton Zürich including Richterswil, Wetzikonand Zürich-Höngg. These give children the opportunity to get creative and be festive.
Costume Celebrations
Kids (and parents) just wanna have fun! And really, what is more fun than dressing up? Put on your costumes and have a scarily good time with other families. You can go to Halloween-themed parties while climbing at Parc Aventure Genève, ice-skating at Dolder Ice Rinkor touring Lake Lugano at Crociera di Halloween.
Magnificent Monsters
Regardless of whether you celebrate the traditional way or the Swiss way (or even both!), all those tricks and treats will eventually make your children feel quite tired. Once they are in bed, you can read The Monster Book of Switzerlandto them as a bedtime story. Assure them that monsters are only in the book and not under their beds. But, just in case, leave on a nightlight so they won’t be too scared to fall asleep!
Eerie Echoes of the Underworld
Feel like going beyond the confines of earth? Go to hell(ishly) named spots around Switzerland. You can hike through the Schöllenen Gorge to see the Devil’s Bridge in Canton Uri or explore the Hell Grotto caves in Canton Zug. Pitchforks not included!
A Creepy Chapel and a Menacing Museum
Hold on to your… head! The Leuk Charnel House in Canton Valais is a chapel that has a wall of skulls 20 meters long. And if you’re interested in all things hocus-pocus, there is even a Witch Museum in Canton Aarau
TREATS
Bewitching Bathtime Fun
Celebrate Halloween anytime and anywhere – even when taking a bath at home. Lush has launched a vegan Halloween collection of bath bombs, soaps and even shower slime to help your child get into the fun side of Halloween!
Räbeliechtli Rituals
Traditionally, we sculpt into big, sweet pumpkins to make jack o’ lanterns for Halloween. But your kids can also carve lanterns out of tasty turnips for Räbeliechtlicelebrations that occur in November. Join the parades and festivals in towns throughout Canton Zürich including Richterswil, Wetzikon and Zürich-Höngg. These give children the opportunity to get creative and be festive.
Costume Celebrations
Kids (and parents) just wanna have fun! And really, what is more fun than dressing up? Put on your costumes and have a scarily good time with other families. You can go to Halloween-themed parties while climbing at Parc Aventure Genève, ice-skating at Dolder Ice Rinkor touring Lake Lugano at Crociera di Halloween.
Magnificent Monsters
Regardless of whether you celebrate the traditional way or the Swiss way (or even both!), all those tricks and treats will eventually make your children feel quite tired. Once they are in bed, you can read The Monster Book of Switzerlandto them as a bedtime story. Assure them that monsters are only in the book and not under their beds. But, just in case, leave on a nightlight so they won’t be too scared to fall asleep!
11 Ways to find Santa Claus in Switzerland
11 Ways to find Santa in Switzerland
Whether you call him Samichlaus, Pere Nöel, Babbo Natale or Saint Nicholas, every child gets excited about Santa Claus. So as the holidays draw near, here are 11 different ways for you and your children to find Santa Claus this season.
1. You may have heard that Santa lives far away in the North Pole, but actually he is much closer than you think. Take the special Santa cogwheel train to Santa Claus’ house on the top of the Rochers-de-Naye mountain. He’s opened the doors to his home and is inviting you to come in. After seeing him at his home, take the train back down to Montreux to see him and his reindeer fly high in the sky over Lake Leman everyday from 21.11.19 through 24.12.19
- While Santa may live on top of a mountain, did you know there is an actual town called St. Niklaus? It is nestled in heart of the beautiful Nikolai Valley just a short distance from Zermatt and Saas Fe. Your kids will marvel at the tallest Santa in the world, which was even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. At 36 meters high, St. Niklaus serves as its home. So come for the Santa but stay for the amazing winter activities including 5 Family Funparks, fondue in a cable car and of course, access to fourteen 4’000-metre peaks, including the Matterhorn!
- While Santa may live on top of a mountain, did you know there is an actual town called St. Niklaus? It is nestled in heart of the beautiful Nikolai Valley just a short distance from Zermatt and Saas Fe. Your kids will marvel at the tallest Santa in the world, which was even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. At 36 meters high, St. Niklaus serves as its home. So come for the Santa but stay for the amazing winter activities including 5 Family Funparks, fondue in a cable car and of course, access to fourteen 4’000-metre peaks, including the Matterhorn!
- The master confectioners at Kambly have developed a special event that every child will be excited about – making their own chocolate Santa Claus! Using rich, delicious chocolate, your child will have a treat that is fun to make and tasty to eat! But that’s not the only thing you will find at the Kambly experience. Be sure to visit all the attractions of the Kambly Christmas Market including baking a gingerbread house, listening to fairy tale stories in the forest and watching the Punch and Judy show in the Christmas tent. They’ve also got great Christmas gifts, including customizing your own tin filled with Kambly’s mouthwatering biscuits!
- Have you ever heard Santa actually speak? Well he will when he gives a speech at the annual Saint-Nicolas Day event that occurs this year on 01.12.19. If that weren’t already enough, your kids get to also play bingo, witness a torch-lit parade and… could it be… even get gifts?! All in front of the beautiful setting of Bulle castle. If that isn’t dream-like way to spend the evening, we don’t know what is.
- Have you ever heard Santa actually speak? Well he will when he gives a speech at the annual Saint-Nicolas Day event that occurs this year on 01.12.19. If that weren’t already enough, your kids get to also play bingo, witness a torch-lit parade and… could it be… even get gifts?! All in front of the beautiful setting of Bulle castle. If that isn’t dream-like way to spend the evening, we don’t know what is.
- Torches also feature prominently at Klausjagen Parade on 05.12.19 in Küssnacht am Rigi. More than 1’400 people participate in this procession including whip-crackers, iffele-bearers, cowbell-ringers, and horn-blowers. And of course, the central figure of all this noisy and bright action, Saint Nicolas himself.
- What if one Santa isn’t enough? Maybe you prefer to be surrounded by many Santas. Especially Santas who love winter sports as much as you do. On 30.11.19, you gwt your wish when the Sauman ski resort in Engadin hosts the Santa Claus World Championship (ClauWau). There will be 7 different disciplines including snow sculpture-building, chimney climbing, e-snowmobile race and even a treasure hunt. We wonder what treasure Santa has hidden under the snow for this special event…!
- What if one Santa isn’t enough? Maybe you prefer to be surrounded by many Santas. Especially Santas who love winter sports as much as you do. On 30.11.19, you gwt your wish when the Sauman ski resort in Engadin hosts the Santa Claus World Championship (ClauWau). There will be 7 different disciplines including snow sculpture-building, chimney climbing, e-snowmobile race and even a treasure hunt. We wonder what treasure Santa has hidden under the snow for this special event…!
- Did you know Santa can also swim? See many different incarnations of Santa jump into Zürich’s freezing Limmat River for the annual Zürcher Samiclaus-Schwimmen that takes place on 08.12.19. Or perhaps you want to participate yourself! If so, make sure you’re as timely as the Swiss trains when registration opens. Last year the event, which supports the Caritas charity, sold out in just over three hours!
- You’ve seen Santa ride his sleigh but did you know he can also drive motorcycles? On 07.12.19, see 50 Harley-driving Santas at the Harley-Niggi-Näggi Event in Basel. This is also a charity event that benefits the Theodora Foundation, which provides clowns to bring smiles to the faces of children in hospitals.
- You’ve seen Santa ride his sleigh but did you know he can also drive motorcycles? On 07.12.19, see 50 Harley-driving Santas at the Harley-Niggi-Näggi Event in Basel. This is also a charity event that benefits the Theodora Foundation, which provides clowns to bring smiles to the faces of children in hospitals.
- Santa is probably best known for giving gifts to children all over the world. It’s his core competence, after all. But what if he couldn’t give gifts any longer? Find out how children help Santa find his way in Buon Natale, Babbo Natale, a musical playing on 15.12.19 in Bellinzona.
- Every child loves a good story. Swiss Post has 3 audio stories about Santa Claus to delight your little one this holiday season. Furthermore, for the past several years, Swiss Post has had a dedicated team answering children’s letters on behalf of the very busy Santa Claus. So let your kids know they should start writing!
- Every child loves a good story. Swiss Post has 3 audio stories about Santa Claus to delight your little one this holiday season. Furthermore, for the past several years, Swiss Post has had a dedicated team answering children’s letters on behalf of the very busy Santa Claus. So let your kids know they should start writing!
- Finally, Santa appreciates that you love him so much that you are willing to go all over Switzerland to find him. Guess what? He will happily come visit you too. In many towns and villages across Switzerland, you can book a local Santa through the Claus Directory. When visiting families, some will tell stories and give gifts like Chlausgruppe Nidau. Some also visit classrooms, playgroups and nursing homes like Klauskomitee Jona while others visit companies and social clubs like Samiklaus & Schmutzli. St. Nikolausgesellschaft der Stadt Zürich even has a free hotline your kids can call or – in true 21st-century fashion – a Whatsapp number your kids can text! Yes, Santa is easily accessible and truly everywhere.