Christmas Came Early!

and by that I mean, my mom came to visit us in Basel! The best Christmas gift a girl could ask for. Being with family is my favorite part of the holidays.

She arrived on Sunday and even though the weather was the pits & I was feeling under the weather myself, my mom of course was up for anything & everything! We still managed to get out & explore the Christmas celebrations in Basel.

While the Herbstmesse brought a unique spirit to Basel, I find Christmas here to be truly special. The city comes alive!

Of course, we spent quite a bit of time roaming around the city and checking out the Christmas market.

Signing the "Basel Wish Book"

For the nineteenth time, the traditional Basel Wish Book is accessible in the inner courtyard of the Town Hall for all members of the public – both local residents and visitors from around the world – to add their Advent wishes. Over the entire Christmas period and into the new year visitors can fill the book with their private thoughts, wish-lists for Santa Claus and hopes for peace, love and good health.

One of her 1st nights here, Matt took over baby duties again and we headed out on the town so I could show her the city all lit up! (She actually took most of these photos. Certainly a better photographer than I!)

Does this setting look familiar?

Famous ornament shop of Johann Wanner

We also had our 1st fondue!! at a famous little "traditional" place in the city center. It was delicious, but also the most expensive fondue one could imagine. As is the Swiss way!

  

We also took my first trip down to the "old town" which is where all the traditional Basel families live. (Meaning those families who have lived in Basel for centuries). Also, where the Basel Paper Museum is located. This was a fun treat to visit. If you have kids aged 5 - 12 it would be even better as there are lots of fun activities, i.e. actual paper making, stamping, printing making, etc. Although incredibly interesting for big kids as well.

 

We also partook in a Basel holiday tradition of eating these little guys on Dec 6th.

"St. Nicholas Day on December 6th: On the 6th of December the swiss tradition is to eat Grättimaa and drink hot chocolate! Grättimaa, as it is called in the area of Basel, originally came from the German-speaking central plain, the Basel and Neuchatel area. Some say “Gritti” refers to the figure’s legs being apart, others think that it means "old".

Another tradition I read is that if kids are good, St Nicholas comes to their homes on Dec 6th delivering the Grättimaa treats.

No matter the tradition, they were delicious!

 Now, most importantly, we all know why she really made the trip over...

We had a great time playing in the parks and around town.

Thanks for our 1st advent calendar great-grandmother!

Someone had so much fun, he tried to sneak home with Kar Kar!

soon we'll be celebrating the holidays back in the states! We are all incredibly excited. :)