The countdown to Christmas, with Jung analysis and old pictures

Light Christmas advent boxes — swissinfo.ch

2020 has been challenging, to put it mildly, so SWI swissinfo.ch would like to help you relax in the run-up to Christmas with four fun stops along the way. Sit back and click through some oddities and festive stories from our archives.

This content was published on December 20, 2020 - 10:00

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I write articles on the Swiss Abroad and “Swiss Oddities” as well as weekly briefings and press reviews. I also translate, edit and sub-edit articles for the English department and do voiceover work for videos. Born in London, I have a degree in German/Linguistics and was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. I speak all three official Swiss languages and enjoy travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.

As a member of our Multimedia team, my work focuses on everything to do with imagery - Photo editing, photo selection, editorial illustrations and social media. I studied graphic design in Zurich and London, 1997-2002. Since then I've worked as a graphic designer, art director, photo editor and illustrator.

I am an experienced video journalist passionate about making complex topics accessible and engaging through compelling multimedia storytelling. Focused on social and environmental issues, I produce various video formats on a wide range of topics, specialising in impactful explainer videos with motion graphics and stop-motion animation. During my studies in cinema, English literature and journalism, I’ve gained experience in radio, television, and print across Switzerland. After working with the Locarno Film Festival’s image & sound team, I joined SWI swissinfo.ch in 2018 to produce local and international reportages.

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圣诞节倒计时：盘点瑞士圣诞传统

Most households in Switzerland have recently welcomed a new member: the Christmas tree. Tiny or towering, real or plastic, a tree is a must for the perfect Christmas atmosphere. But where does this tradition come from?

Carl Gustav Jung knows. In 1957 the Swiss psychiatrist explained the symbolic significance of traditions like the Christmas tree, which he described as “food for the soul”. The conversation was translated for this Christmas feature by our predecessor, Swiss Radio International.

Exterior shot of C.G. Jung Institute, with statue in foreground

MP3 file

Excerpts from interview about Christmas with Carl Gustav Jung

Another tradition is Christmas markets, where you can find everything from homemade jam to artistic pottery – and, of course, huts full of festive food and deceptively boozy drink. Join us for a stroll through one of Switzerland’s most beautiful Christmas markets, by Einsiedeln Abbey.

Once upon a time, snow was a permanent winter feature in Swiss cities. Pictures dating back to the 1930s show how citizens – and camels! – coped with the slippery white blanket.