This December swissnex Boston hosted the swissnex Weihnachtsmarkt. A holiday party celebrating the swissnex community and all the year’s achievements, the weihnachtsmarkt gathered more than 180 guests to the Cambridge consulate.

While enjoying traditional Swiss holiday food and drink, including grittibänz and glühwein, guests mingled through the various “stalls” at the weihnachtsmarkt, featuring Helvetiq, swissnex Boston and the ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) Toy Drive.

While all the the stalls were filled with intriguing and festive activities, the ABCD Toy Drive stall proved to be the most successful. Guest of the Weihnachtsmarkt were asked to bring one unwrapped toy as their contribution to the "gift-giving" season, which would in turn be given to underprivileged children in the Boston area. With this participation, swissnex Boston collected over 200 toys for the ABCD Toy drive.

The morning after the event, toys for the ABCD drive spilled out from under the tree.

Along with the toy drive, guests were invited to partake in the Weihnachtsmarkt raffle. With twenty-four gifts donated by our ten sponsors (swissbäkers, Helvetiq, Lindt, Boston Coach, Nespresso, Swiss Air, vinodivino, The Inn at Harvard, Whole Foods and Mondaine), the raffle entry requirements required guests to write down a wish for the New Year. “World peace” and “a winter without snow” were a few of the more popular wishes for 2012. Later on in the evening, Pascal Marmier's sons blindly selected the winners.

-Lauric Marmier, the raffle host-                 -Mark O'Toole, Nespresso winner-                  -Selina Winter,Whole Foods winner-

The  Weihnachtsmarkt also featured The 24 Days of Vocation: a swissnex Advent Calendar. Highlighting facts and figures about the Swiss vocational system, the advent calendar served as a dynamic platform for guests to learn about the benefits of this successful educational training. After studying the 24 “days”, guests then participated in the Vocational Quiz, in which the winners received the 2012 Swiss Calendar.

A guest trying to win the 2012 Swiss Calendar.

Around 7:00pm the guests were surprised with a flash-mob performance by the Boston College Sharps, an all girls acapella group. Adding to the festive atmosphere, the Sharps performed classic holiday songs for the crowd. Jen Maraia, the Sharps business manager, was very excited with their performance: “We really enjoyed singing… and the event turned out great. We hope to be able to sing for you again if it works out!”

The Boston College Sharps preforming "Joy to the World."

As the glühwein and holiday cookies disappeared, guests slowly began trickling out of swissnex Boston. With a successful toy drive and festive event behind them, the swissnex team members are looking forward to keeping connections the New England community through the New Year.

Thank you to all who attended swissnex Weihnachtsmarkt. From the entire swissnex Boston team, we wish you Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year!