A Brief Description of the German Festival
 

Fasching is the German equivalent to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.  The celebration of Fasching,  the fifth season in Germany, starts on November 11th at 11:11:11 European time.  For the first month and a half the Christmas holidays take precedent.  Once New Year’s Eve, known as Silvester, arrives the celebrating starts to pick-up.  From that night the bars and clubs are filled with people wearing outrageous and also sexy costumes.  In about two weeks before Shrone Tuesday, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the partying increases. During Fasching there are wild parties, gluttony, and sexual promiscuity accompanied by drinking. The celebration has roots in ancient Egyptian rituals perpetuated thru the Roman period by the feast of Bacchanalia and Saturnalia.  The Church in the Middle Ages hindered the carnival attitude. North and south Germany celebrate the season differently.  In the south, near Black Forest, the celebration has more pagan roots.  Witches and trolls dominate the parades.  These are used to chase away spirits of the winter.  Kids dress-up in a variety of costumes.  The best parades in the south are in Weil der Satdt and Rottenberg.  There are carved wooden masks that are worn during the parades.  In the north, near Cologne, the roots are more Christian.  It is seen as the last fling before fasting and solemnity of Lent.  Rosenmontag is the Monday before Ash Wednesday.  The name is derived from rasen meaning to rave, go wild.  On that day is the official parade marking the climax of the Drei tolle Tage (three crazy days). Faschingdienstag  is the last day of the celebrating.  Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival) is on the last Thursday.  The women are allowed to act as boldly as they want they at times may cut the ties of businessmen off with shears.

For more information and pictures on Fasching click.
                                                         go.germany
                                                         Karneval in Koeln