Table of Contents
- 1 The smartphones are pulled out: Evening of snow and glass crystals on Bahnhofstrasse.
- 2 “Like in New York”
- 3 Looking forward to the Christmas markets
- 4 Half a dozen Christmas markets attract people even when it snows.
- 5 Christmas snow from yesterday
- 6 Rarely happens: “Lucy” is switched on on November 21st while the flakes are falling from the sky.
- 7 How does the juxtaposition of high-tech light installations like “Lucy” with traditional elements of a Swiss Christmas market contribute to the overall festive experience?
The first snow in the city coincides with the switching on of the Christmas lights. Many people are happy about the white splendor, but marketers see disadvantages.
The smartphones are pulled out: Evening of snow and glass crystals on Bahnhofstrasse.
“Three, two, one, zero!” The crowd on Herkulesplatz on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse is counting down to the countdown. At zero it becomes silent for a moment: then “Lucy”, the Christmas lights, lights up.
Thousands have gathered to witness the first hours of Zurich’s pre-Christmas season. This year, “Lucy” was switched on for the first time with a so-called buzzer, and the countdown was displayed on a large screen.
“Like in New York”
“A countdown is always good!” say two Zurich women at Herkulesplatz about the innovation. “It’s like New York, in Times Square!” But not everyone likes the innovation. “For me it’s just about the lighting, it doesn’t matter whether there’s a buzzer or not,” says a Bernese woman who traveled to Zurich for “Lucy”.
Also new: This year, Zurich residents can give away a component of “Lucy”. The Zurich Bahnhofstrasse Association, which finances the Christmas lighting, sells sponsorships for the individual crystals for the lighting. A total of 11,500 sponsorships are available, one for each “Lucy” crystal. A sponsorship costs 45 francs and is valid for one year.
Sales of these sponsorships were actually supposed to start on November 21st. But because demand was very high, the Bahnhofstrasse association decided to open sales on November 5th. So far, 300 of the 11,500 stars have been sold. Fanny Eisl from the Bahnhofstrasse association says: “We are very happy with the start of the campaign.”
The Bahnhofstrasse association donates 10 of the 45 francs to the clowns of the children’s hospital. Sponsors can also voluntarily increase the amount donated – for example by 30 or 60 francs. Many people have done that so far, says Eisl. 5,000 francs have been raised so far.
Anyone who purchases a crystal sponsorship will receive a shiny silver certificate. It says where the crystal is hanging, for example: “Crystal No. 2380 of 11 500” on Bahnhofstrasse, corner of Bärengasse.
Looking forward to the Christmas markets
While “Lucy” decorates Bahnhofstrasse, Christmas markets are taking place all over the city. They also opened on Thursday – and were also eagerly awaited.
Shortly before 4 p.m., around a hundred people are standing in front of the entrance arch in front of the Christmas market on Sechseläutenplatz, some of them holding umbrellas. “One more minute,” says a visitor, then the ribbon is cut. The Christmas market is open.
Half a dozen Christmas markets attract people even when it snows.
The first mulled wine is served at three past four, and at five past four “Jingle Bells” sounds for the first time. The fir trees in Wienachtsdorf are lightly covered with snow. The perfect start to the Advent season – or so it seems.
But the snow brings disadvantages for those who work at the Christmas market. The chestnut seller Michael Ademi says: “When it snows, many people stay at home.” The snow is better than rain. “But it is best when the temperatures are between 3 and 10 degrees, when it is dry and ideally sunny. Then people come and buy too,” says Ademi. If it is too cold, that is also bad for him. “When the temperatures are below zero, people don’t want to have to hold a bag of chestnuts.”
Maja Gautschi at the traditional fried salmon stand sees it straight away: “When it snows, people come and get something quickly, but dry is better.” She wants to remain optimistic: “Now let’s see how this year goes.” Meanwhile, the stands on Sechseläutenplatz continue to be covered in snow.
Christmas snow from yesterday
White Christmas market, does that also mean white Christmas? No, probably not. These are rare, even in years when it snows in November. In Zurich there is a high probability of a white Christmas Meteorologists at 27 percent. The last time there was a white Christmas in Zurich was in 2010.
It’s always been that way: White Christmases are becoming rarer due to climate change. But they were always an exceptional case. Shortly before the holidays, the so-called “Christmas thaw” often sets in: between December 24th and 29th, warm, humid air advances into Switzerland from the south. It starts to rain – and the pre-Christmas snow melts again just in time for Christmas Eve.
Why do so many people still seem to remember that there used to be more white Christmases “back in the day”? Psychologists say these are memory illusions. Our brain tends to perceive special events more strongly than ordinary ones. So if we experience a white Christmas once in ten years, we will remember it much more in thirty years than the nine green Christmases.
The good thing about it: Our brain also likes to mix up memories – and so Advent snow becomes Christmas snow in retrospect. So if it snows in the Wienachtsdorf this year, some people will probably remember a white Christmas in 2024 in a few years. So: wrap up warmly, grab mulled wine and collect memories of the “Christmas snow”.
Rarely happens: “Lucy” is switched on on November 21st while the flakes are falling from the sky.
How does the juxtaposition of high-tech light installations like “Lucy” with traditional elements of a Swiss Christmas market contribute to the overall festive experience?
This is a great article about Zurich’s festive preparations, blending the twinkling lights of “Lucy” with the snow-covered Christmas markets. Here are some open-ended discussion questions broken down by theme:
**Theme: “Lucy” and Festive Lighting**
* What role does the “Lucy” light installation play in shaping the festive atmosphere of Bahnhofstrasse?
* How does the popularity of the “Lucy” sponsorship programme reflect people’s desire to participate in communal celebrations and community enthusiasm?
* What are the potential benefits of incorporating charitable giving into a festive event like this?
**Theme: The Charm of Christmas Markets**
* How do the vendors perceive the impact of the weather on the success of the Christmas markets? What are the ideal conditions for them?
* What elements contribute to the unique charm and appeal of Zurich’s Christmas markets? How do they compare to market traditions in other cities?
* How do the uncertainties of the weather influence visitors’ experiences and expectations of the Christmas markets?
**Theme: White Christmas and Memory**
* Does the experience of seeing snow at the Christmas markets heighten the desire for a white Christmas?
* How do personal memories of past Christmases, both white and green, influence our perceptions of the holiday season’s ideal weather?
* What are the factors that make a white Christmas so appealing Despite becoming increasingly rare?
**Additional Discussion Points:**
* The connection between climate change and the decreasing frequency of white Christmases is briefly mentioned. This could spark a discussion about the broader environmental impacts of climate change and its effect on cultural traditions.
* The article touches on the “Christmas thaw” phenomenon. This could lead to a conversation about meteorological events and seasonal patterns.
Let me know if you’d like me to expand on any of these questions or suggest any further discussion topics!
