What is Fasching you say? One big fat party is what most people would tell you, but in greater detail, it's Germany's famous pre-Lenten festivities. Much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Carnevale in Venice, Italy, Fasching is celebrated with grand costumes, exciting parades filled with floats and clowns throwing candy, and, of course, lots of booze and debauchery. Many towns across Germany hold their own Fasching parades and celebrations, but the most popular parades on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) are held in Cologne and in Mainz (a town adjacent to our current host town) the Monday before Ash Wednesday. Knowing we couldn't attend the parades in those cities this year, D and I settled on joining the Fasching festivities in downtown Wiesbaden this past Sunday. I was amazed to see how much Fasching in Germany reminded me of Halloween. Practically every Halloween tradition, from dressing up in ridiculous costumes to getting candy from strangers blended right into the German Fasching traditions. They even have Fasching costume stores (which is exactly where I bought my Halloween costume this year)! D and I kept it simple, sporting our German pride with hats we bought on a day trip to Coburg last summer. We seemed to blend right into the mayhem quite nicely! Much like Mardi Gras, floats line up and ride up and down the city streets, throwing goodies to the hundreds of dressed up onlookers below. Instead of throwing beads, in Germany they throw out items like candy, popcorn, sponges (weird), gummie bears, and tiny bottles of schnapps. And you don't even have to show your ta-tas for them! Just yell out the words "HELAU!!" (sounds like hello) and the treats come flying! We came home with a bag of loot every trick-or-treater would be envious of. Plus 6 tiny bottles of alcohol. I'd say Fasching was a great success for Team Coté! We can't wait to do it up big next year!
Ok now I am determined to go to Germany! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat to see so many pictures of Carnival! I love Germany, and travelling, so reading about your trips is great. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics and I love that little dogs costume, probably the cutest thing ever!! It looks like a great time. The parade actually starts here in Karlsruhe in 30 minutes, but I'm stuck int he office boohooo!
ReplyDeletelove this!!! it does look a lot like mardi gras! what a blast!
ReplyDeleteWe should do that here in America. Sounds like a fun time!
ReplyDeleteI love this! Looks like you guys had fun and came away with great loot too! :)
ReplyDeleteBeads where you don't have to EARN your beads?! Perfect. I must go to Germany!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds amazing! I need to get up to Germany for this!
ReplyDeleteTiny bottles of schnapps?! Sign me up! This looks like a blast.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such fun!
ReplyDeleteMardi Gras is in full swing here. Beads all over the place. Fasching looks like more fun to me!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh the dog with the horse rider!!! amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have been so sad seeing all of my friends having the best time out at the parades and at the various parties at night. This is my third time missing Fasching, and really, it is such a great time of the year, the fifth season as we call it! You are lucky you got to be around for that this year, I am glad you enjoyed it! Great pictures too!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Great costumes!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me want to visit Germany..............loved all the photos..........
ReplyDeletegreat pictures. I loved em all until I got to the clown ones. they freaked me out and I hope I dont have nightmares now after seeing em. i'm a new follower so i hope you'll follow me back. have a nice nite and a great hump day.
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You guys in your hats! So cute :-)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter lives in Stuttgart, and commutes to Frankfurt twice a week for her job. She hasn't mentioned Fasching, so I will have to ask her about it. She grew up going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Sounds like something she would enjoy. Again, your photos are all amazing!
ReplyDeleteCortne
My husband and I lived in southern Germany (we lived in Friedrichshafen located on der Bodensee) for 3 years (2008-2011) and Fasching was my all-time favorite holiday there! :) If you ever get a chance, check out the Fasching celebrations in southern Germany... The costumes are amazing and their traditions are slightly different than those of northern Germany (less political/clowns/etc.). I love reading your blog and keeping up with all things German. We've been back in the States for a little over a year now, and I still miss Germany like crazy! Living over there gives you a whole new perspective on life, and I'm finding that after living there for so long (and loving every minute of it like I did! :)), it's rather difficult to readjust to life back here in the States... :/ Nevertheless, keep the blog posts coming and enjoy your time in that beautiful country! :) Prost!!
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing your photos! I used to live in Stuttgart. Looks like this was a lot of fun this year.
ReplyDeletexx
Bonnie Rose
The Compass Rose
This just makes me want to not only visit Germany, but just move there...sounds so fun.
ReplyDeleteGreat fun to see you to enjoy all this adventurous things. I hope, it was very adventurous years.hotel frankfurt
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