Laowai

Brian took Bea to the Christmas Market in Einsiedeln – it’s accross the lake and up in the hills. We plan to go to another Christmas market this weekend. We’re trying to soak up all the new Christmas stuff around us before we head back to the US.

Check out the scary guy hanging around Santa – it’s Schmutzli. Schmutzli is Santa’s side-kick that lectures the kids. Apparently in the past he would put kids in a sack and kidnap them. I guess they try to scare kids into behaving here, while we are used to bribing them with the promise of gifts. I’m still learning about the Swiss Christmas traditions and how it all happens – you can read about Swiss Santa (Samichlaus) here.