Tuesday is Gipfeli day at our house. I thought it would be kind of fun to document it for posterity. In Switzerland they have this fabulous tradition called "Znueni". The word itself is a mashing together of the phrase "zum Nueni", or in English "for nine". At around 9 am all over the country, people stop whatever they are doing and have a bit of a mid-morning snack. They have usually had breakfast at 6 am, so they are definitely ready for a little pick me up. They even sell special little bags for the kids to take their znueni to school in. My kids usually take an apple, maybe a few crackers, sometimes nuts and raisins. I also buy granola bars for the occasional treat. But on Tuesday, oh wonderful day, they all get warm, fresh from the bakery, croissants.
This family tradition started a couple of years ago, when I would take Sophie to preschool one morning a week. Since I was already right across the street from the store, I would just stop and pick up a few croissants, or Gipfeli as they are called here, and take them up to school for Nick and Sarah. Now it is Noah's turn to be taken to preschool, and after dropping him off, I go and deliver the rest of the gipfelis to the other children. Sarah doesn't have to be at school until a bit later on Tuesdays, so she comes with us as well. It's quite the outing in the children's eyes. Noah loves pushing the little child-sized cart, and even Alexandra helps put a bag or two on the conveyor belt by the cashier.
The excitement starts first thing in the morning at the breakfast table. That is when I take their orders. Sometimes they just want a Gipfeli, other days they want a Wegli, which is a soft roll, with a split down the middle. We used to refer to the bread choices as "moon" or "bum", for obvious reasons. :) Once in a while, they want both, especially Nicholas. My kids are not big breakfast eaters, so by snacktime, they have quite the appetite. I indulge them in this wish. Alexandra can even polish off an entire croissant by herself, which is impressive, considering they are usually as big as her head!
Sarah and Noah put their croissants in their bags by themselves. Sarah and Alexandra then get back in the car while I run Noah across the street to preschool. After he has been safely dropped off, I drive Sarah up to school and Alexandra and I make the rest of the deliveries. We always stay at the kindergarten for a few minutes so Sophie and Alexandra can give each other hugs, and Sophie can show me whatever it is she has been working on. Last week we stayed for a whole hour while they had snack and worked on an Easter craft. Her teacher is very kind and Alexandra soaks up all the attention she gets from the other kids.
Nicholas is usually still in class by the time we get to him, so we always put his bag of baked treats in the sleeve of his jacket that is hanging up on a hook outside the classroom. Occasionally, we also get to wave a hello, but he doesn't like me drawing any attention to him so we usually just sneak in and out as quietly as possible. The school kids eat their snacks during "grosse Pause" or long recess at 10. The kindgarten kids get to sit at tables in the classroom and eat, then go play outside when they are done.
Almost as much fun as "Znueni" is "Zvieri" , the afternoon snack at four o'clock. And if you have friends over to play, then "Zvieri" has to be something extra special. The kids have come home and told me all about these elaborate cakes, puddings, or fruit salads they have been given at their friends' houses. I will occasionaly make brownies, or cookies or something, but usually, I just cut up a bunch of fruit or vegetables and call it good. The Swiss kids don't seem to mind, although I do often wonder what they tell their parents when they get home. Oh well, they keep coming back so it
can't be too bad. :)
Wow, that is so awesome! I would love someone to bring me a gipfeli at around 10am. We pretty much have scheduled snacks at those times too. 10:00 then 4:00. My 4:00 is usually apples with peanut butter, yum!