Fasching

The kids had last week off of school for Fasching. Never heard of it? Well, neither had we until we moved to this part of Germany. It turns out that Fasching (or Fastnet) is a Germanic rendition of Carneval--the big party time leading up to Lent (the reflective and repentant weeks leading up to Easter). There are many traditions surrounding and leading up to Fasching that I don't begin to understand (like the particular day when groups dressed up as Witches storm city hall and/or offices and cut off men's ties) but some that I very much enjoy (like feasting on jelly-filled donuts and fried scones rolled in cinnamon sugar). The kids spend time at school making masks, and having costume parties. Even the towns themselves dress up by stringing cloth streamers across the main street, and by putting out Hexen (witches) and Narren (fools). Here is a shot of part of our main street here in Ehningen.

Witches are hanging out at the Town Hall in Hirschau, one of the towns we drive through on our way to our Wardhouse in Tübingen. And "Hey!" (that's for you, Ab) -- there's a fool keeping watch at a nearby house.

We also had a Fasching party with the Primary--our very own homegrown circus! Hmmm...they're not looking too lively.

Now, that's a little better. Hokey-pokey, anyone?

On the last few days of Fasching (Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday), most of the bigger towns and cities have parades. One of the most famous is in the town of Rottweil (yep, where those dogs come from), which is only about a half an hour away from here on the Autobahn. Chuck took Sarah and Madeline (I stayed home with sick Emma and Kira) early Tuesday morning to check out the traditional masks and costumes (traditional meaning they have been doing it this way for hundreds of years!) Chuck came back with some fun pictures (and the girls with quite a bit of candy, that the Narren were throwing into the crowd). Here are some fancy-schmancy uniforms right out of the middle ages.

Love those bloomers!


Clowns of ALL sizes

All the costumes in the Rottweil parade have to be officially approved and certified. There are a few particular types of Narren--each with specific types of carved, wooden masks, clothing (decorated with paintings, embroidery, feathers, etc.), and accessories (like staffs, bells, or parasols).



This poor fool and his horse end up getting a real whipping.

This guy uses his "animal tail on a stick" to tickle people with. That's a bit different, but I was told that, in Rottenburg, the fools instead bonk people on the heads with an "inflated pig bladder on a stick". I'm sure there is some deep meaning behind it--just don't ask me what that might be (it could also be that it makes a lot more sense after you've had a beer or two--but I wouldn't know about that)

I love the yellow sign in the background. It lets you know that you are leaving "here" and heading towards "there".

Fasching has been a completely new cultural experience for us--and one we have begun to enjoy. After all, a holiday that introduces some life, fun, and color into the month of February can't be all bad.