ANSBACH, Germany (Feb. 20, 2014) -- The Fasching season, also known as the "fifth season" in Germany, has a long tradition in Europe. It originates in the preparation for the six-week fasting time during Lent, which ends on Easter. Fasching, Fastnacht or Karneval is a time when Germans loosen up a little, dress up in funny costumes and party. Karneval is especially popular in the Rhine region. Cities like Cologne, Mainz or Düsseldorf more or less shut down to party during the high season.
The date of the long Fasching weekend varies, depending on the church calendar; while the official start of the season is always on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:11 a.m., the revelers stay dormant during the Advent and Christmas season until the actual high Fastnacht season in the following spring. In the time between New Year's and the high Fasching season many towns and villages host balls, parties and parades. Partygoers typically dress up as a character, similar to Halloween. German police are cruising the streets more frequently at night to catch those who drink and drive.
The high season starts with Altweiberfasnacht, or crazy Thursday Feb. 27, 2014, when traditionally the women take over the city's courthouse and cut off the tie of any man who dares to wear one. After attending parties all weekend long, people flock to the large cities like Cologne or Mainz to watch the Rosenmontag ("Rose Monday") parades March 3, 2014, or stay local and enjoy smaller parades, often with folklore background.
Faschingsdienstag, or Shrove Tuesday, March 4, 2014, offers one last chance to party hard and then "bury" the carnival at midnight until following year. Aschermittwoch, or Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Fastenzeit, or "fasting time" or Lent. The weeks before Easter are often used as a time for reflection and renunciation of certain personal vices like smoking, alcohol or candy, which is an American tradition as well.
Here is a selection of regional events celebrating the Fasching tradition:
• Chinesenfasching in Dietfurt: The traditional Chinese Fasching in Dietfurt is well known in the area. This year the city celebrates the 60th anniversary of the unusual event Feb. 27, or "nonsense Thursday." The MCs start the party on the stage in front of the Rathaus, or city hall, at 1 p.m. At exactly 1:61 p.m. [sic] the parade starts moving from Industriestrasse through town towards the town center, where the annual proclamation of the emperor is held. For more details check out www.dietfurt.de or www.chinesenfasching.info.
• Fasching in Allersberg: The city hall of Allerberg is taken over by the Allersberger Fleckleshexen ("patchwork witches") in an event called Rathaussturm Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., followed by a children's parade and party at the Sybilla-Maurer-Grundschule in Allerberg.
• Nonsense Thursday in Wolframs-Eschenbach: Fasching parties with music and dancing take place in the local restaurants and pubs (Gasthaus Heubusch, Gasthaus Zur Traube, Café Parzival, DJK Sportgaststätte) in Wolframs-Eschenbach Feb. 27, starting at 8 p.m.
• Fasching parade in Georgensgmünd: The annual parade March 1 at 2 p.m. in Georgensgmünd features local clubs and groups in wagons or walking, followed by a Kinderfasching with music and dancing in the Gym (Turnhalle, Wiesenstrasse). Admission is free.
• "Carnaval Latino" in the International House in Nürnberg: Latin-American rhythms, dance shows and live music will rock the Heilig-Geist-Haus (Hans-Sachs-Platz 2) downtown Nürnberg on March 1, starting at 9 p.m. Guests are encouraged to come in costume; tickets can be purchased in advance for 12 euros at Casa de la Salsa Havanna (01 74/5 22 27 19) and the Amt für Internationale Beziehungen, Hans-Sachs-Platz 2; tickets for 14 euros are available at the evening counter.
• Rock Oldie Fasching at Grüne Halle in Fürth: For a fun "Rock Oldie" Fasching party check out the Grüne Halle in Fürth (Krautheimer Strasse 11) March 1 starting at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). A cover band will play music from the 60s, 70s and 80s, a large dance floor provides plenty of room to move and groove. For details and ticket information, visit www.gruenehalle.de
• Fasching Sunday Allersberg: Allersberg starts celebrating at 10 a.m. March 2 with a Frühschoppen at Gasthaus "Altes Spital" (Marktplatz 10). At 1:30 p.m. live music starts at the Marktplatz. A large parade with 80 wagons, walking groups and marching bands begins to meander through the streets of Allerberg at 2:11 p.m.
• Mitteleschenbach "Helau" - Parade: The Mittelschenbach parade begins at 2 p.m. March 2 and is followed by Fasching celebrations throughout the town.
• Ornbauer Fasching Parade: Ornbau is hosting a parade downtown March 2 at 1:30 p.m., followed by Fasching celebrations at the Stadthalle.
• Parade and Ball in Spalt: The traditional folklore parade of Spalt takes place March 3 at 7 p.m., starting at the Josefsplatz. A "Rosenmontagsball" with the live band Sunrise is scheduled afterwards at 8 p.m. at the Stadthalle. To learn more, call 09178-5464.
• Kinderfasching in Feucht: A Kinder Fasching party is hosted by TSV 04 Feucht on Segerswegs 9 March 3 at 2 p.m. Admission is 2 euros for children and 3 euros for adults. To learn more, visit www.tsv04feucht.de.
• Nürnberg Fasching Parade: The Nürnberg Fasching parade, the oldest of its kind in the world, leads 49 decorated wagons and more than 3,000 participants through the city March 2 beginning at 1 p.m. The route takes the parade from Am Stadtpark to Pirckheimerstrasse, Bayreuther Strasse, Rathenauplatz, Laufer Tor, Innere Laufer Gasse, Theresienplatz, Obstmarkt, Museumsbrücke, Königstrasse, Kaiserstrasse, Josephsplatz and finally Vordere Ledergasse. The best strategy to watch the parade is to pick a spot along the route and wait for the fun to come to you. To learn more, visit www.fastnachtszug.de.
• Fastnacht-Jahrmarkt in Ansbach: The city of Ansbach hosts a carnival market with vendors selling a large variety of goods downtown near Schlossplatz, Reitbahn and Karl-Burkhardt-Platz. The market is open March 3 through 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and March 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Kinderfasching in Ansbach: A large Kinderfasching party takes place at the Onoldia (Nürnberger Str.32) in Ansbach on "Rosenmontag" March 3 from 3 to 6 p.m. Children can dance and play or participate in games or crafts. Also offered are face painting and a costume contest. To learn more, visit www.ansbach4u.de.
• "Spalt Aha"-- Fasching Parade in Spalt: The Spalt Fasching parade is scheduled for March 4 at 2 p.m., starting in Rother Strasse. Live music begins at 1 p.m.. Fasching parties take place afterwards in the local restaurants.
• Kinderfasching in Gunzenhausen: A Kinder Fasching party starts at the Stadthalle Gunzenhausen March 4 at 2 p.m.
• Kinderfasching in Ornbau: Ornbau hosts a Kinder Fasching party at the Stadthalle Ornbau March 4 from 2 to 5 p.m.
• Schwabach Fasching Parade: The Fasching parade in Schwabach takes place downtown March 4 at 2 p.m.
• Bamberg Fasching Parade: The Bamberg Fasching Parade takes place March 4, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Markusplatz. From there it moves through the town on Kapuzinerstrasse, Am Kranen, Lange Strasse, Schönleinsplatz, Willi-Lessing-Strasse, Luitpoldbrücke, Obere Königstrasse, Kettenbrücke, Hauptwachstrasse and ends on Maxplatz. Many pubs and cafes celebrate the end of Fasching downtown afterwards. To learn more, visit www.kultur.bamberg.de.
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