As I sit here, looking at my Christmas bedecked home, I take a breath and think I can’t believe the holidays are almost over. It’s typical that it’s only in the beginning of January that I sit down and look around and think with gratitude of the beauty of the season. 
Thank heavens in Switzerland the 12 days of Christmas start on the 26th and conclude with the Epiphany on January 6th, which is a holiday here in the Catholic Canton of Ticino. Many businesses are closed throughout the entire holiday period, all the schools are closed until January 7,traffic seems to be reduced to a quarter of what it usually is, all contributing to the impression of a hushed stillness. In our little village of Pura, one gift that we all share is the sound of our great church bells ringing out the chimes of Silent Night after having completed the job of ringing out the 5 o’clock hour. 
Finally Home Switzerland 