I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

Switzerland is a beautiful country indeed, blessed with the most stunning Alpine landscapes, verdant meadows dotted with trees in a million shades of green, beautiful chalets with flower-lined balconies, crystal clear lakes and charming towns connected by the scenic and efficient Swiss Rail.

- Shibani Bawa

But around a month prior to Christmas, the country transforms into a winter wonderland with an inimitably festive atmosphere. I spent a week exploring the Christmas and Advent markets of Geneva, Bern and Basel, soaking in the joyful spirit all around. My takeaway from this trip was that Christmas in Switzerland makes for an unforgettable holiday, ideal to create memories for a lifetime. And on that note

May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christamas' be white!

BIG CITY VIBE IN GENEVA

Before we immersed ourselves into the twinkling fairyland of Geneva's Christmas markets, we indulged in a very unique tradition of the city. Every year, the Geneva Cauldron tradition is celebrated on the weekend closest to December 11, to commemorate the heroic act of Mere Royaume, a cook who poured a scalding cauldron of soup over the city wall to protect it from Savoyard soldiers who were attacking Geneva in 1602.

That is why, starting December, one sees beautiful cauldrons of varying sizes displayed in the show windows of the finest chocolatiers. As per tradition, families and friends get together, and the eldest and youngest members of the gathering join hands and smash chocolate cauldrons that are filled with marzipan vegetables.