On December 18^th, the Kohane group gathered to celebrate the holidays and the annual tradition from Geneva, Switzerland called the Escalade.  The Escalade is an annual festival celebrating the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy during the night of December 11, 1602. Celebrations include a large marmite made of chocolate and filled with vegetables and candies wrapped in the Geneva colors of red and gold. The custom is for the oldest and youngest to join hands and smash the chocolate pot, at which point everyone rushes for the marzipan.  This tradition originated from the story of a woman pouring her hot vegetable soup over the heads of troops trying to invade the city.

Dinner was served while Dan gave a presentation on the history behind the tradition and an overview of the lab’s growth over the years.  The night ended with children smashing the marmite and collecting the marzipan vegetables that spilled out.