Räbeliechtli week: what to bring
Swiss Mom Monday Memo 1 November 2026
Räbeliechtli week: what to bring
Plus vaccination week, a cheese recall, Samichlaus deadlines, and burglary season
Traditions · Zurich
Räbeliechtli parades this week
What happened
Many kindergartens and schools hold their lantern walk in the next two weeks. Kids usually carve their Räbe (turnip lanterns) in class, then walk them through the neighborhood after dark, singing. Parents and siblings tag along, and the evening often ends with a grill, punch for the kids, and Glühwein for the grown-ups.
What to do
Dress everyone warmly, bring your own cup (many places ask), and have some cash or Twint ready.
No school walk? Many community centers (GZ) hold one that’s open to everyone. See the Räbeliechtli parades in and around Zurich.
When Nov 2–14
Find a parade: Räbeliechtli parades on Swiss Mom Life
Health · National
It’s vaccination week
What happened
From Nov 2 to 7, participating doctors and pharmacies offer easy flu, Covid, and RSV vaccinations, plus advice if you’re not sure what you need. A second round runs Nov 23 to 28.
The federal health office expects only about 60% of this year’s flu vaccine to arrive on time, so some of it is coming later in the season.
What to do
Pregnant or have a newborn? Ask about RSV and flu protection while you’re there. Pharmacy out of flu vaccine? Try again in the second week.
Week 1 Nov 2–7 Week 2 Nov 23–28
Source: Federal Office of Public Health · published Oct 13, 2026 · SRF on the vaccine delays
Safety · National
Check your fridge for soft cheese
What happened
The federal food safety office warned of listeria in several soft cheeses from Eberle and Strähl, sold at Migros, Coop, Volg, and other shops. Lidl’s Rahmweichkäse and Volg’s Bonaparte Rahmkäse are also recalled.
Listeria can be serious for pregnant women, newborns, and young children.
What to do
Don’t eat the affected cheese. Check the product list in the official warning and take it back to the shop for a refund. Lidl refunds it without a receipt.
Recalled Eberle and Strähl soft cheeses Also Lidl Rahmweichkäse, Volg Bonaparte
Source: Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office · published Oct 29, 2026 · All recalls on RecallSwiss
Traditions · Zurich
The first Samichlaus deadlines are here
What happened
Kids aged 5 and up can walk in Zurich’s Samichlaus parade on Nov 29 as angels or gnomes and help pull the carts. Registration closes Friday, Nov 6.
What to do
Want a home visit or a Samichlaus event? Check your local GZ, municipality, or Samichlaus society now, since popular dates go fast. See all the Samichlaus events we’ve listed.
Märlitram tickets go on sale Nov 13 at 8 a.m. Set a reminder.
Parade sign-up by Nov 6 Märlitram tickets Nov 13, 8 a.m.
Sources: St. Nikolausgesellschaft Zürich · Coop City Märlitram · All Samichlaus events
Safety · National
Burglaries are on the rise
What happened
New figures from insurer AXA show 45% more burglaries from October to March than in the summer months. December is the peak, and on Dec 24 and 31 there are more than twice as many burglaries as on an average day.
It’s dark by late afternoon now, and many break-ins need no force at all, just an open door or a tilted window.
What to do
Lock the door even for a quick school pickup, close tilted windows, and put a timer on a lamp before the holidays. Heading away over Christmas? Tell a neighbor.
Peak December Dec 24 and 31 twice the usual risk
Source: AXA · published Oct 22, 2026
Family · National
Would you work 80% if you could?
What happened
A University of Zurich study shows that many men in Switzerland want to cut their working hours, but few do. Each year, nearly 10% of men working full time start wanting to work part time, and only about one in ten of them follows through.
The biggest barrier the researchers found is workplace culture: in jobs built around long hours and the breadwinner model, few men even ask.
Over to you
Has your family made part-time work for both parents happen? What made it possible, or what’s stopping you? Tell me on Instagram.
Source: SRF · published Sep 29, 2026
See you next Monday, Dana
P.S. I’m excited to go to the Räbeliechtli Umzug this week with my daughter. I missed it last year because of a work trip.
Follow along on Instagram, and send this to a parent friend in Switzerland.
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