February is for Festivals

The parties started with Kenneth's birthday, which was supposed to be small and cozy, but, in the course of organization, transformed itself into big and wild. The party had a Fisher Price Little People theme , which was a hit with both parents and the little partygoers. Why this particular theme? Nina fell in love with the multi-cultural aspect for one (a mixture of ethnic backgrounds, just like our party guests) and also the fact that it wasn't a TV cartoon character (which would be too early for a one-year old, in her opinion). In addition, the website was well done with downloadable invitations and thank you cards, party ideas (e.g. why not a Little People figure as a party favor), etc. What an e-Marketing success story for Fisher Price--Nina spent so much money to ship Little People stuff over from the US to Switzerland! Here in Switzerland it was practically impossible to find anything for a first birthday theme so Thank God! for the Internet. Our only complaint to Fisher Price--they need to create a Little Person of mixed ethnic background like Kenneth and many of his playmates.

Shortly after Kenneth's birthday, we attended the birthday party of Noëlia, who is half Venezelan and half Swiss. Although there was definitely a Latin influence, her party was still definitely more Swiss (low key, no overriding party theme but very elegant) than Kenneth's party but just as enjoyable.

February is also when Zürich celebrates Fasnacht (the Carnival week before Lent). Celebrating Fasnacht with children is commonplace in Switzerland, even for non-religious institutions like the employer-run daycare which Kenneth attends. During the Fasnacht week, the kids were allowed to come in costume and romp around as Spiderman, Godzilla, Bob the Builder, Barbie, or whatever they or their parents could imagine. The caregivers were also dressed up and the daycare house was decorated with streamers, balloons, and the ever-present Fasnacht confetti. It's somewhat doubtful whether the babies appreciated the costumes, however, Kenneth did come home one day completed covered in blue paint and wearing a huge smile. We took this as a not-so-subtle sign from the daycare that Kenneth should get in the spirit of things and the next day Nina sent him off as "Anpanman", a famous Japanese comic book superhero made of bread and sweet beans. Apparently, in Japan, food items can be superheros too. Kevin had the honor of bringing Kenneth to the daycare in his new disguise and trying to explain to the baffled caregivers why the little boy was wearing a bread and beans suit. At the highpoint of Fasnacht, Kenneth's daycare joined forces with another neighboring daycare and went parading around town. For Kenneth's public debut, Anpanman (thankfully) had been replaced by a little Japanese kimono outfit.