Abu Dhabi: Santa Claus is in town early this year. Residents in Abu Dhabi started Christmas celebrations on Thursday evening with the Swiss community gathering at a prominent hotel in the capital where the courtyard had been transformed into a little Swiss Alpine village.
The Swiss Christmas Market with its open-air vibe offers residents the chance to experience the joy and spirit of the festive season.
Visitors looked around for special gifts for loved ones while enjoying a charming environment created by snow showers and plenty of activities.
The Swiss Business Council Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of the Swiss Embassy, is organising the 10th edition of the four-day event until Sunday at the Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi.
Adrian Bless, the Deputy Head of the Mission at the Swiss Embassy in Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the event along with Jean-Marc Suter, the president of the Swiss Business Council (SBC).
“We are excited to bringing you this special event for the 10th time,” Suter said. He welcomed some members of the founding team of the Swiss Christmas Market who flew in from abroad to be with the community on the special occasion.
A senior Swiss diplomat Andreas Maager and his wife Claudine Maager arrived from the US and another Swiss national Stefan Thumiger flew in from Singapore to join the celebrations. They had been actively involved in organising the annual market when they lived in Abu Dhabi a few years ago.
Claudine and Andreas Maager said they wanted to refresh the colourful memories of the Christmas market, which they enjoyed while living in Abu Dhabi from 20004 to 2009.
Suter said: “Swiss Chocolate treats are available at the live chocolate kitchen every day and all the proceeds will be doubled by the SBS and together we will donate the amount to the Make a Wish Foundation, a leading global charity organisation.”
The Swiss Musicians Alders, who have been specially flown in from Switzerland, are giving traditional Swiss music performances throughout the four days.
The Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi is exhibiting ‘Christmas in Abu Dhabi’ themed drawings during the four days of the event, which can be purchased at the centre’s stand.
The organisers said the festive atmosphere brought alive by the aroma of freshly baked cookies and other seasonal delicacies aims to help expatriates get over the fact that they are far away from their homeland during Christmas.
There’s a special children’s area with a variety of activities such as storytelling, face painting and gingerbread decoration etc.
Forty colourfully decorated wooden chalets are selling a variety of seasonal items, including a potpourri of decorative gifts, handcrafted items and a selection of traditional delicacies.
Traditional Swiss specialties like ‘Raclette’, a Swiss potato and cheese dish, and the Swiss Fondue, a dish for social events, have been a big hit with the visitors.
Santa Claus will be in attendance for the Special Christmas Brunch on Saturday at 12pm at the same venue. Children will get a Santa Claus gift bag and all visitors will have the chance to win an Etihad flight ticket to Switzerland.
