What is a Lumpenball?
In German, Lumpen is translated as “rags” or “Ragamuffin”…. and a Ball is, well, a Ball, with dancing. A Lumpenball, in translation, is a Ragamuffin Ball or a Hobo Ball. The idea is to attend these balls AFTER Fasching, since you spent all of your money on costumes, drinking and partying, so all you have left is just enough to dress like a bum, or, in some cases, you just have your worn out and torn costume to wear!
Decorations tend to be modest or even tacky. Balloons, rags, and toilet paper streamers are lots of fun! It’s the final Karneval party.
