Looking for Joseph

We have many religious holidays here in Switzerland. After Christmas and the New Year celebration comes Epiphany. This holiday falls on January 6th, but it is celebrated starting the Sunday before to the Sunday after. This Christian "feast day" celebrates the revelation of the Savior being the Son of God, and also the visit of the Three Kings (Magi) to the Baby Jesus. Here in Switzerland, "King Cakes" are out in all of the stores. In our French part of Switzerland they are flakey large pastry cakes with almond filling. In the German portion they are more sweet bread formed in a circle with a sugary coating on top. The first year here, Paul, came home from work and told me that they had celebrated Epiphany at work with a "King Cake" and that he had gotten the little porcelain figure inside.  The next morning I set out to get a family king cake and get our own little porcelain figure. 

Here is the Shepard and little lamb that I got the first year. Yay, I was on my way to getting a little Nativity.

This year we got a cake to have for Epiphany, which fell on a Sunday. WE GOT AN ELEPHANT???? It was cute, but he was not Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus or one of the three kings. Paul and I decided that I should get another one.

I went back that Monday morning, because the King Cakes would not be available for very long. I was a little obsessed. I bought two cakes. In one we found Mary and the Baby Jesus. (that is a little blanket tossed over Baby Jesus)

In the next cake we found two of these three kings. So, now we (really I) needed the other king, right? I waited until two days after Epiphany, because I thought the cakes might be cheaper. They were way cheaper, so I bought three for 3CHF each. I was bound and determined to find the other king, but instead I found a Friar. Did I mention that I didn't even wait to cut the cake with my family.

Here is the Friar I found.

In the next cake I found another lamb to add to my shepherds herd.

In the very last cake I got the last king. Now I am seeking Joseph, but that will have to wait until next year. For now, my little Nativity has an elephant. He was too cute to relegate to a corner. I also have three king cakes in my freezer, because we still need to eat the spoils.

I like the King Cakes here. I hear there is a cow and and a camel too. Only 355 more days until Epiphany's King Cakes come out again, but who's counting? :)