On the Sunday evening closest to the 12th of December, a very special event takes place, the "Escalade". It commemorates the battle the Genevans won against Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy on that date in 1580.
That night, a guard who saw the invading army shot his gun. The poor soldier was killed immediately after his action, but the sound of his gun woke the city of Geneva. Men and women alike took their arms and defended the city of Geneva. In an action that would become historical for the city of Geneva, a woman, Mother Royaume, threw her boiling soup over the head of an invader.
Every year on this date, a historical procession walks through the streets of Geneva to celebrate the victory, and locals and visitors are invited to savor a chocolate version of Mother Royaume's broth.