Christmas comes in trees

Christams Tree Festival in Geneva

For the second year in a row, Geneva has invited artists to decorate more than 100 trees throughout the old town.

In St Gallen, more than 5,000 lights will shine from what is billed as the tallest Christmas tree in Switzerland.

Using existing trees in Geneva’s parks and gardens, as well as along its streets and lakeshore, Swiss and international artists have used light to transform them into works of art.

Visitors to Geneva can experience the “Christmas Tree Festival” until January 5.

A helicopter had to be used to deliver St Gallen’s giant Christmas tree. The 20-metre-high evergreen will adorn the square in front of the eastern city’s cathedral until Christmas Eve.

Until January 4, more than two dozen shops and restaurants in the well-preserved old town of Stein am Rhein in northern Switzerland are decorating their windows with fairy tale scenes.

The western city of La Chaux-de-Fonds is attempting to draw Christmas shoppers to its streets with Switzerland’s biggest advent calendar. Two-dozen participating buildings have been decorated with the theme, “the City of Angels”.

The Christmas trail continues on to Estavayer-le-Lac on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. Visitors can admire almost 100 Nativity scenes dotted throughout the medieval town. The event begins on December 6 for one month.

Arosa – just for laughs

The winter season has gotten underway in the eastern resort of Arosa with a ten-day comedy festival which ends on December 15.

Entertainers from around the world will bring their unique brand of slapstick, stand-up and pantomime to Arosa.

Evening and late night performances are held on stage in the village casino, while afternoon shows will take place in a tent erected on the ski slopes.

swissinfo