Family Activities
Holiday Traditions You’ll Want To Copy
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Suzanna Scott
Nov 24, 2015
Despite the busyness and stress that comes with it, the holidays really are one of the very best times of the year. And one of the easiest way to get into the spirit of the season is to indulge in the many traditions that trigger an outpouring of good vibes. Of course, most of us know about the standard American holiday traditions, so we decided to tap an international mama, S.F.-based children’s author and PR lady Allie Summers, to tell us about her family’s Swiss-meets-U.S.-inspired pastimes. We asked the mother of two (Zuri, 3, and Nova, 8 months) to let us tag along as the trio decked their halls with Pottery Barn Kids holiday goods, boogied to seasonal tunes in fancy frocks, and took an indoor sleigh ride. Read along and get inspired!
This post is brought to you by Mother + Pottery Barn Kids
-
- "In Switzerland we used this sled as Zuri’s 'stroller' when we would go up to the Alps in the winter. It is the best way to tow your babies around in the snow. Zuri’s Swiss/Brazilian godparents gave it to her for her first birthday. It is kind of a right of passage. Every Swiss kid needs one! It was handmade in the small mountain town where her godmother grew up. We love sledding in the snow. Sometimes, I even prefer it to skiing. There are days when we just decide to go sledding instead. The wooden horse is also handmade in Switzerland. The Swiss are so talented with wooden toys. Zuri would scoot around on the horse in our apartment in Zurich. Now, Zuri says it is 'Nova’s turn.' So sweet!"
-
- "We lived in Switzerland for 7 years. My husband (Sean) and I were supposed to be there for only 3 years, but we fell so in love with that country that we ended up staying much longer. The only thing that could draw us back stateside was an excellent job offer for Sean at Button, a startup that enables smart connections between apps. It was a hard decision to move—I was 7 months pregnant with Nova, I had to quit my job, leave our friends that had become family, pack up Zuri’s little Swiss life, and close our Swiss bank accounts—but we did it. Now, in San Francisco, I am consulting in Corporate Communications/PR and I wrote a children’s book, Gorilla Gardeners. It has been fun to explore San Francisco and see this city through the eyes of a toddler, but we still think about and miss Zurich everyday.” Designer Doll Ornament, $11.50, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
-
"Being back in California, you see how much the weather influences the holidays. A lot of our holiday traditions in Switzerland were based around staying warm and cozy, making things look brighter in the dark winter months, and, of course, playing in the snow. In California, we will still visit a traditional German Weinachtsmarkt or 'Christmas Market'; but since we will be in LA for Christmas, maybe we will go to the beach instead of sledding? Ultimately, for me, Christmas is about getting the family together, eating great food, playing, and just talking to each other without any outside stress."
Designer Doll Ornaments, $11.50 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
Burlap Glitter Trees, $19.50 to $23.50 a piece, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
- "These doll ornaments are a nice change from the classical ball ornaments and there is one for each of my girls. I let Zuri choose hers and she picked the ballet bunny, which left Nova with the ice skating girl. Finding a place on the tree for ornaments has been one of my favorite things to do ever since I was a kid. It warms my heart to share this with Zuri and Nova now." Designer Doll Ornaments, $11.50 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
-
"Once Zuri found a place on the tree for her doll I told her that when everyone goes to sleep the dolls come alive and dance around the living room all night, but as soon as we wake up they jump back to their spots on the tree as if nothing happened. Look at her face!"
Designer Doll Ornaments, $11.50 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
Burlap Glitter Trees, $19.50 to $23.50 a piece, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
-
"Since we will be in LA this year on Christmas, I still wanted to have a small tree to decorate in our house. These little glitter trees add just the right amount of Christmas feel without taking over the entire living room. Plus, the doll ornaments look adorable on them."
Designer Doll Ornaments, $11.50 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
Burlap Glitter Trees, $19.50 to $23.50 a piece, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
- "In Zurich we would always ride the tram and get our tree fresh from the city forest. Then we were 'those people' with a tree on a tram. Once we got the tree in our apartment, we put on Christmas music, made mulled wine, set out the lights and ornaments, and trimmed the tree all together in the evening. This year we will do the same except we will probably get our tree from a lot in LA.” LED Silver Starburst String Lights, $29.50, Pottery Barn.
-
-
"One of our favorite Swiss German holidays was the Rabeliechtli festival that happens every year in November. You carve a large turnip, similar to how we carve pumpkins. You practice singing the traditional songs together. Then, one evening all the kids parade through the streets with a candle in their carved turnip and sing the Rabeliechtli songs. It is somewhat similar to our Christmas caroling. It is beautiful with all the turnip lanterns and kids voices. The German school in San Francisco organizes a ‘Laternenfest' (high German for ‘Rabeliechtli') and Sean took the girls this year. December 6th is also a big holiday in Switzerland that we don’t celebrate in the U.S. It is the day ‘Samichlaus' (St. Nicholas) comes. Samichlaus wears a red hood and white beard similar to Santa Claus. He is accompanied by his friend Schmutzli who wears a brown hood and has a brown beard. Samichlaus has a bag of gifts and rewards for those children who have been good. Children must prepare something for Samichlaus, like a poem or a painting, before he hands out the gifts. Schmutzli is there with his wooden broom to punish the naughty kids. Of course, no kids get punished, but that is how the story goes. It will be hard to find a legitimate Samichlaus in San Francisco, but we will still celebrate by giving the girls a simple gift and a small burlap bag filled with peanuts, clementines, and 'guetzli' (cookies) on December 6th.”
LED Silver Starburst String Lights, $29.50, Pottery Barn.
Yarn Tassels, $15 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
- "These tassels are so diverse. You can string a few together and hang them over a fireplace or you can decorate doorknobs and other corners with just one. They add a nice festive touch without being too loud. Plus, they could also work on the Fourth of July!" Yarn Tassels, $15 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
- "The star twinkle lights are great because they don’t need to be plugged in. I wouldn’t be surprised if they live in our house after Christmas.” LED Silver Starburst String Lights, $29.50, Pottery Barn.
-
- "Zuri was born the day after Christmas, so we decided that we would always celebrate her half birthday on June 26th so that she could have a special day decoupled from Christmas. But, we also throw a huge family celebration on her actual birthday. You should see it. It is like being on a movie set. We tear down all the Christmas decorations on the morning of the 26th and put up birthday-themed stuff. We bake a cake, sing happy birthday, and open presents wrapped in birthday paper (not Christmas wrapping). This year we are going to Disneyland for her birthday. She cannot wait to see where Mickey Mouse lives. So far it has been pretty easy to keep her birthday separate from Christmas, but let’s see how it is when she gets older." LED Silver Starburst String Lights, $29.50, Pottery Barn.
-
- "Sometimes stockings can be so gaudy. I was drawn to these for their crisp Nordic look. Zuri said I get the swan, Nova is the angel, Daddy gets Santa, and she wants the snowflakes. Opening stockings was always my favorite part of Christmas as a kid. I wanted to get stockings that would last through the years and be part of our family tradition." All That Glitters Stocking Collection, $27.50 each, Pottery Barn Kids.
-
- "In Zurich this plaid throw doubled as my winter scarf. Since it is too hot in S.F. for a wool blanket scarf, I placed it on our bed to add some seasonal color to our room. Zuri and I also like to hide under it from the scary lion that appears sometimes (wink!).” Tencel Duvet Cover, $199, Pottery Barn.
-
- "Sean always tries to play Christmas music in summer, but I don’t let him start until at least November, otherwise it looses its charm. When we break out the Christmas music it is really special and we have a huge dance party. Zuri loves dancing on the bed, so we pump up the music and let loose. One of our favorite albums is Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song. Music is big in our house, so no matter what the season, we are always having dance parties.” Tencel Duvet Cover, $199, Pottery Barn.
-
- "Food is a trigger for the holiday season. When we would smell roasted chestnuts on the street for the first time in Zurich you knew Christmas was right around the corner. They sell them on almost every street corner. So far I haven’t seen any in the store yet, but as soon as I do I will buy a bunch and roast them in the oven. Drinking mulled wine was the best way to warm up during the cold winter months. They usually sell it at the chestnut stands, but we also would make our own at home and cuddle up on the couch. For our Christmas dinner we do a cheese fondue or raclette (also hot cheese but prepared differently). I like fondue and raclette dinners because they are interactive. Everyone has to work (a little bit) for his or her food and it is fun to add different spices to each bite. Hopefully we can find some great Swiss cheese in S.F. this year! And what would Christmas be without sugar cookies? My sister in law has the best Christmas sugar cookie recipe in the world. When she is not around I try to bake them, but they always taste better when she makes them.” Tencel Duvet Cover, $199, Pottery Barn.
-
- "Art is a great way to express the holidays. Zuri loves painting, drawing, and gluing. This year I think we will cut out some paper trees and snowflakes and decorate them with paint.” Tencel Duvet Cover, $199, Pottery Barn.
-
- "This year the holidays are particularly special because Zuri is old enough to understand more about what is going on. I cannot wait to read lots of stories about Santa and to see her face on Christmas morning.” Tencel Duvet Cover, $199, Pottery Barn.
-
- "Let’s face it. Dressing up is so much fun. And having two girls makes it even more fun. Zuri and I play dress up in my closet all the time. She takes out all my high heels, scarves, hats, and sunglasses and goes to town. The holiday season gives us the perfect excuse to go all out. Especially as a mom, it is rare that you get to don a pretty dress and feel fancy. When I do, I want it to be great. One of my favorite new S.F.-based womenswear labels is Kamperett. I am wearing two different Kamperett dresses in this shoot. The two female designers are local and they produce locally. When I put on their emerald green silk wrap dress I feel effortlessly elegant. Plus, Zuri thinks I look like a princess in my 'pretty dress.'"
-
- "It is fun to see how kids bring the magic back to the holiday season. Nova was born in February of this year, so it will be her first Christmas. It is exciting to share the holiday with both girls and to see the difference between a baby Christmas and a toddler Christmas. The time flies so fast with these girls. It seems like yesterday that Zuri was Nova’s age.”
-
- "The Christmas Wish and The Polar Express are our all time favorites. We read Christmas stories every night and in the month of December. Last year, my mother in law gave Zuri a Christmas book advent calendar, which I thought was a great idea. It really is the gift that keeps on giving!" The Night Before Christmas, $18.95, Pottery Barn Kids.
Share this story
