Thanksgiving and Zibelimärit

Since the kids have school on Thanksgiving we celebrated on Sunday with friends from our ward (Nathan and Mikaela).  We had turkey and all the trimmings but couldn't find cranberry sauce (I think, I'm the only one who missed that).

Once the dishes were in the dishwasher, Nathan started pulling out the Christmas boxes.  The boys put the tree together then Kent added the lights.

Ryan decorated himself, then read a book...

while Nate continued to pull every decoration from every box (ok, I only have 4 boxes).

 All was decorated before the dishwasher was even finished.

Then Monday morning dawned bright and early with the annual Zibelimärit (onion market).  When Bern burnt down 300 years ago, the neighbors shared their onions to get them through the winter.  After recovery and rebuilding, Bern decided to host an onion party to share with their neighbors.  So, I get the onion market...

 candy necklaces that look like strung onions…

onions decorated with flowers,

onions made into wreaths,

and onions decoratively strung to hang in your kitchen.

But the part I don't get is the crazy, confetti throwing, hammer bonking people.  This is very not swiss--messy, confrontational and very conversational.  One starts with a large back of confetti (in Ryan's hand) and a hammer (in Nathan's hand--one side for hitting girls, one side for hitting boys and the other end with a whistle in case you need to call for reinforcements).

Then off you go!  The taller the better for Nate.  Once you stun the unlucky bystander, the others descend with fistfuls of confetti.  Hopefully, the mouth is still open from shock and the confetti enters.

If that happens, just spit it out.

And if you smile real cute, the victim will not even consider you the hammer source.

All sorts of riff raft to be found on the streets to include our Thanksgiving guests from the night before, our Bishop's son and 2 of our ward missionaries. 

The look of success.  One who has the support of a dad and 2 brothers to protect him when his victim choice was not without consequence.

And the confetti, continues to fly…4 hours and 5 kilos later.

The support team:

The victims:

 The survivors:

Happy Zibelimärit!!!