Hunting Cheese: Turnip Lantern Procession

Well, it was originally sold to me as the "Lantern Festival" however the official name is the Turnip Lantern Procession. The processional commemorates St. Martin's Day. Children carry lanterns carved from turnips and lit with tea lights (kind of like jack-o-lanterns carried on a stick). Here's a little article I found that has good photos: http://www.momstotszurich.com/2011/10/rabechilbi-turnip-lantern-festival.html

The procession goes on after dark throughout the city of Basel. However, our Kita (along with many others) organised a mini festival for all the kids and parents at the daycare. Instead of turnips the kids made colorful lanterns out of tissue paper and soda bottles with little battery powered tea lights in the bottom.

Once we all gathered at the daycare, we started to head outside and sang a little song while "processing" around the nearby park. This takes longer than you would think, with the little guys walking on their own, shaking the lights out of their lanterns, turning around, sitting down, you name it. :) Regardless, it was pretty sweet and cute.

Then we headed back inside for some delicious, warm soup. It was a great chance to see the teachers interact with the kids and to meet some of the other parents, aside from during pick-up.