People who like to dress up in fancy dresses or costumes can do it through February 28 of each year, as Germany celebrates its “fifth season” or “crazy season.” Different areas in Germany have different names for this season of disguise, being crazy and wild and having fun. In the Pfalz region it’s called “Fassenacht” or “Fastnacht,” in Bavaria it’s called “Fasching” and in the Cologne region it’s called “Karneval.”
The fifth season officially begins at 11:11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month. Carnival clubs and associations start preparations for all kinds of events, including street parades that take place during the fifth season which ends on Ash Wednesday.
Traditionally, in the first week of the new year, carnival clubs crown their new Fastnacht Princess or Prince. The mayor then hands them the keys to the city or village, allowing Fasching celebrations to officially start.
Typical celebrations and events include the “Maskenball,” “masquerade ball”; “Faschingstanz,” “Fasching dance”; “Kinderfasching,” “children’s fasching party”; and “Prunksitzung”, “pomp session.” They are announced on various signs and posters, in advertisements and newspapers, or through social media.
The fifth season features parties, dances, funny speeches and parades. Visitors to Fasching events are encouraged to dress up in costumes. If they are not in disguise, they might be charged a higher admission fee when entering Fasching events in community halls, culture centers, sports gyms and other facilities. Some organizations conduct best costumes contests and award prizes.
Customarily, women do not need a male escort when going to a Fasching dance. It’s even up to them to ask the men for a dance, and the men had better not say no to them!
A typical Fasching event is the “Prunksitzung,” which literally translated means “pomp session.” Carnival associations generally sponsor and organize this event. Amateur comedians hold, in their local dialect, humorous speeches spiced with sarcasm about local happenings, people or politics. In between speeches, carnival club members sing and present dances. A committee consisting of a president and eleven counselors will watch the session from their seats in the back of the stage. After each performance, committee members present medals to the performers.
Fastnacht has its origin in ancient times, when people realized that with the start of a new year, spring would soon be on its way. To make it possible for spring to arrive, the demons of winter had to be chased away. Therefore, people dressed in evil-looking costumes and masks. They danced in the streets looking like devils, demons and witches and used noise-making devices, bells and drums to scare away ghosts of winter.
Through the centuries, the season developed into a Christian ritual. The literal translation of the word “Fastnacht” is “night of fasting.” Today, it’s the time of merriment and laughter preceding Lent, the 40-day period before Easter.
The word “Karneval” also refers to the fasting period. The Latin expression “carne vale” means “farewell meat” and describes the time of celebrations before Lent, when people have to renounce meat, opulent meals and festivities.
The main days of the carnival season are “Altweiberfasching,” meaning “old women’s fasching,” on Feb. 23, Rose Monday on Feb. 27 and Fat Tuesday on Feb. 28.
Rose Monday is known for colorful parades with floats, musicians, dancers and walking groups in creative costumes going through towns.
