Some of the names are regional, varying by locality. Known as Alte Fastnacht , this observance takes place after Lent begins. It began in as a protest by washer women in the Beuel district of Bonn. The Narren fools take over the pedestrian zone for three days Sunday-Tuesday and turn it into a big open-air party. Fastnacht , also known as Fasnacht, Fasent, Fasnet and Fassenacht , depending on the local dialect, is the Swabian-Alemannic carnival of southwestern Germany, northern Bavaria, western Austria, German Switzerland and Luxembourg.
The Fastnacht version of carnival has some unique characteristics and customs not found, or far less prominent in other regions. One theory says that this a reflection of the pre-Christian roots of the Swabian-Alemannic carnival. In ancient times these figures and masks were part of an effort to drive out evil spirits in the dark of winter. Over time, however, with the influences from other carnivals, Fastnacht has taken on a wide assortment of costumes and customs — in addition to the traditional ones.
The Narrensprung marchers wear the traditional wooden carved masks characteristic of the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht. For more about Fastnacht , also see Alte Fasnacht in Switzerland below.
Reacting to French and Prussian Militarism One reason that Karneval in the north looks and feels somewhat different from the southern versions Fasching is historical. Most of the Rhineland was occupied by the French in But pre-Lenten celebrating was already popular in the Rhineland in the Middle Ages.
So popular in fact, that there are records of the difficulty authorities had in controlling the wild excesses of Karneval celebrants in Cologne! Later, the French occupiers also felt compelled to ban the wild levity of carnival.
The ban was not lifted until After the French left in , Karneval was a good excuse to mock the Prussian military, but the custom of street parades faded. In following years, carnival committees Karnevalsvereine were set up to re-establish the carnival tradition — complete with parades and military uniforms.
As in most of the Rhineland, the highpoint of Karneval is the big parade on Rose Monday Rosenmontag , the largest in all of Germany, stretching out to a length of six kilometers almost four miles.
Other Narrenrufe : with location Ahoi! Bavaria and northern Germany Helau! Berlin, Heidelberg Ho Narro! Konstanz Schelle schelle — schellau! In various districts of the city, similar events take place, with costumed Jecken YEK-en; carnival participants, fools , bands and other festivities.
Costume balls, parties and other carnival events continue over the next few days, leading up to the big parade on Rose Monday. Many more people view the event on WDR television. There are few places in Germany where you will see carnival on the scale seen in Cologne. These bonfires, which usually take place on the street in front of pubs, are a symbolic burning of the sins committed during Karneval.
During Karneval sometimes beginning on November 11 you can see the dressed-up Nubbel straw men displayed on the front of bars awaiting their doom. No meat for Lent! The organization responsible for carnival in Mainz since is called the Mainzer Carneval-Verein. The Rhineland military influence is definitely still there. The carnival Reitercorps der Mainzer Ranzengarden guardsmen on horseback wear colorful, stylized copies of historic Prussian and Austrian uniforms.
The colors of the Mainzer Fastnacht are red, white, blue and yellow. Weiberfastnacht Today it is a part of the Karneval tradition throughout the Rhineland and elsewhere, but Weiberfastnacht actually got its start in Bonn in At that time men dominated the carnival celebration. The washer women of Beuel decided that they wanted to change that. In they formed the Alte Damenkomitee von e. It is a matter of celebration and marks a holiday for children, on the other hand the work time period is reduced so that people can enjoy themselves.
The Rose Monday is in-fact mispronounced; ideally it should be Rasen Montag which means rushing Monday or live it up Monday. As the 11 th minute of the 11 th hour passes on the 11 th of November a traditional carnival commences on the German streets and other places as well. This street carnival is supposed to occur on the Thursday before Rosenmontag. The interesting part about this carnival is that it is a special carnival for and organised by women themselves, it is also known as: Weiberfastnacht.
The Karnevel spreads across the Roman traditions of the upturning of the society for a day. What used to happen was that the slaves and servants in those days would become masters for a day. This day in-fact marks the beginning of the festival of Lent which is categorised by the spirit of sacrifice. During this day, the practitioners and believers forgo eating meat and take up a vegetarian diet for as long as the festival goes on.
During the carnival all the schools in Germany remain closed on the day of Rosenmontag and the Tuesday that follows, but it is not a matter of a national holiday. You can spot people dressing up in costumes of various kinds along with dances, parades and heavy drinking. Interestingly, amongst the districts who are involved in parading, a kind of unofficial competition has emerged in the recent times as to which district can boast of better parades.
Within these parades locally made and traditional sweets and tulips are distributes as a gesture of giving and slogan shouting as well goes on. The next day of the celebration intensity of the previous day quiets down. The next day is known as Violet Tuesday and the celebration culminates with Aschermittwoch or Ash Wednesday.
The celebrations are quite extravagant throughout the carnival season. With material from Wikipedia Where is Rose Monday? When is Rose Monday? Monday, the 28th of February The next feasts and holidays.
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