First of August marks the Swiss Independence Day. This year we decided to participate at the parade that the local Swiss club organizes. We learned about this parade too late to order lanterns (lampions) from Switzerland. Searching for them on the internet was not successful either. Well, the next step is to turn this into a handcrafts exercise. We decided to make the lanterns from Papier Mache.
Tyler and Thomas had a great time working through the mess of layering paper snippets around balloons. Only a few layers were needed to create a sturdy basis for a lantern. Once thoroughly dried we entered the next phase of painting them. Sydney was all excited, she participated and loved the painting with her brother.
To finalize the lanterns, Thomas built some handles and organized electronic candles.
The day of August first was fantastic; it was dark early and a one after one a group of Swiss found their way to Federation Square. There, the club had organized that the Swiss flags were flown together with the Australian banner. we walked along the Yarra with drums and lanterns. After a quick stop to sing a few songs, we moved on to the Swiss club, where the little ones got a refreshment (and the older ones bought some Lemon Lime and Bitter).
All in all a fantastic evening together as a family.