2023 marked the 200th Anniversary of the Köln Karneval Associations!
What is Fasching? And is it the same thing as Karneval? YES! Karneval / Fasching / Fastnacht all refer to the pre-Lent Season, the Fifth Season in German-speaking countries. Think of this time as the German version of Mardi Gras. The celebrations date back hundreds of years, rooted in Catholic and early Germanic traditions. It’s a time to let go of inhibitions and rules before the imposed restrictions of Lent kick in. During Karneval Season, you’ll see costumes and silly behavior. Narren (fools) take charge, and Princes and Princesses appear in fancy dresses. You can stuff yourself with filled Krapfen/Berliner! And there are funny hats. And as baffling as it may seem, there’s a reason for all of it.
The Karneval Season Officially begins on November 11. It resumes after the Christmas Season until the party comes to a crescendo on Faschingdienstag (Karneval Tuesday).
Cologne is where they celebrate the hardest! The whole city battens down the hatches (and covers show windows with plywood), and goes NUTS!
What is Fasching aka Karneval?
Winter can be long and cold in Germany. In pagan times, the end of Winter was celebrated, and the Winter demons would be chased away with loud noise and celebration. But then along comes Lent, 40 days of Fasting before Easter Sunday. The biggest Karneval celebrations arose between Winter and Lent. Starting on Weiberfastnacht, the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, people cut loose! Feasting, frivolity, parades, parties, and lots of drinking. Fried foods like Berliner/Krapfen are everywhere because, during Lent, fried foods are forbidden (Karneval… or Carne Vale… is Latin for “without meat”).
Much to the Church’s frustration, celebrations continued through the Middle Ages, with people celebrating and carrying on. Most people wear costumes and masks, allowing participants to hide their identities to cut loose without fear of being identified.
In Cologne, the Upper Classes also celebrated in a more “civilized” manner. They copied the elegant masquerade balls of Venice. (There was no drinking on the streets for the wealthy merchants!)
But the Fifth Season begins in November? How does it all tie together?
The Berliner Wall….
When Does Fasching Start?
Fasching officially begins on November 11 at 11 minutes after 11 am; why is November 11 so important? After the French Revolution, the French under Napoleon controlled part of the Rhineland from 1801 to 1813. Their motto – “ Egalität, Legalität, Fraternität” (Equality, Liberty, Fraternity). Take the first letter of each word E, L, F, and you have elf, the number 11.
Under the French, citizens in German lands (what would become Germany in 1871) were awarded more political freedoms. They were also allowed to keep the Karneval parties and parades (the French love a party). But along came the Prussians, who chased the French out. The Prussians were quite serious and disapproved of frivolous behaviors. The citizens lost many of the freedoms they enjoyed under the French. But being German, they did it in an organized manner.
Want to celebrate in the United States? Join in the fun with the GAMGA in Las Vegas!
Photo by Albertine Feurer of Art of Albertine
Karneval gets Organized
In Cologne, they used Karneval to act out democratic rights from behind a mask. By 1823, the first Karneval committees were formed. In many cities, a mock government of 11 Fools or Elferrat (there’s that 11 again) is elected to oversee the pageantry. A Prince and Princess are also chosen to “rule” over the events. Parades, balls, and dancing in the street are happening in almost every town in Germany. In Cologne, they elect The Dreigestirn (virgin, prince, and farmer) to oversee ceremonies.
Costumes and masks allowed the common people to mock their kings and princes without fear of reprisal. Comical skits, speeches, and plays were quite common. This was a time of wild abandon, of chasing fears and flaunting authority.
And from there, things just grew! Today, you’ll find many Karneval Fasching societies. The societies are divided by type.
The Corps Societies– This group wears uniforms that are a caricature of the French military uniforms of the early 1800s.
The Committee Societies– This group wears matching jackets and is primarily responsible for setting up events and activities.
The Sitzungen Society– A group that bridges the time between November 11 and Weiberfastnacht with programs.
Today, over 160 Karneval societies host hundreds of events during the 5th Season in Cologne, the heart of Karneval. Parades, including big floats, high-flying Tanzmariechen, and colorful costumes, meander through the city for all to enjoy!
Important Karneval Dates for 2024/2025
Karneval Starts! November 11, 2024
Weiberfastnacht – February 27, 2025
Rosenmontag- March 3, 2025
Faschingdienstag- March 4, 2025
Aschenmittwoch- March 5, 2025
Karneval Fasching
-Different names for the same celebration. What is Karneval/Fasching called in different areas of Germany?
Karneval in the “Rheinland” (Rhineland) area
Fastnacht around the city of Mainz (‘fasting night’, or eve of Lent, the period of fasting)
Fasnet in Swabia (south-west region of Germany) and in the southwest of the state of Bavaria
Fosnat in the Franken region (northern Bavaria)
Fasching around the city of “München” (Munich) and in Austria
Kölner Karneval – Das Erlebnis
After seeing this… I HAVE to go!
I will have to try again….
In 2025 Easter Falls on April 20
Regardless of when Fasching or Karneval begins, most of the celebrations occur during the week leading up to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. (Remember… Lent is the 40 days BEFORE Easter, not counting Sunday…. The date of Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox.)
The Thursday before Ash Wednesday, (Weiberfastnacht) is when things really go crazy!
One of the unfortunate Weiberfastnacht casualties…. learn more about
Weiberfastnacht here–>Weiberfastnacht
The primary celebration days for Fasching / Karneval are-
Elften Elften um Elf Uhr Elf– The official opening of Fasching! In cities like Cologne, the elected “Mock” government and the Prince and Princess begin to rule over the events.
For the next three months, there will be Karneval parties, but things will be a bit more low-key until the TOLLE TAGE.
Weiberfastnacht is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. This is Ladies’ Karneval Day, and in some communities, it begins with Women taking over City Hall (not a bad idea). Any man caught wearing a tie, a symbol of manhood, may have it cut off… YIKES! Or he may get a kiss. The day ends with costumes and parties.
Saturday and Sunday during this week are prime time for Karneval Balls and Fasching Parties!
Rosenmontag– Rose Monday. This is the big Parade day. All over the Rhineland, massive parades are held to celebrate Karneval.
Fastnachtdiesnstag– Shrove Tuesday. The party can only go until midnight because then it’s Ash Wednesday and time for austerity. There may be some parties or parades, but the day ends with the burning of the Nubbel, a life-sized straw doll that holds all the sins committed during Karneval Season.
Rosenmontag Parade Cologne- Wikipedia commons photo by Rolf Hahn
The Nubbel is a scapegoat. Once it’s burned, all the sins you may have committed while under the drunken influence of Karneval Revelry are forgiven.
While Carnival in Rio may be bigger, and Mardi Gras in New Orleans may be better known in the United States, Fasching or Karneval Celebrations across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are just as wild and exciting…. And just as fun a Party!!
Click here for my easy Berliner Recipe
Perfect Party. Fasching, Fastnacht, Karneval: Über 60 Rezepte für närrische Partys. Mit Audio CD
&
Find a Karneval Party in the US!
There are a few Karneval celebrations across the US… find one near you!
&
Never heard of this, glad to learn a bit about it!
This sounds like such a fun event. I have never heard of it before but I would love to take part in it.
I grew up celebrating Fasching in Germany. It’s been a while since I moved to the States. Looking to see the atmosphere again… Planning a trip making my days fit…. Welcome to join..
But please only in Cologne, because Cologne is home to the best carnival. You can see it in the YouTube movie.
Koelle alaaf
Greetings from Cologne
yoo dle doodle doo da day
OOGA BOOGA SHOOPADEE DOO!!
Thank you for explaining all of this! I was never in Germany for Karneval – or I should say Fastnacht, as I lived in Mainz 🙂 Now I teach German and try to include cultural events. But it’s hard to teach something you’ve never experienced. I’ve done a lot of research, but you really summed it all up beautifully! Danke!!
Thank you for explaining all of this! I was never in Germany for Karneval – or I should say Fastnacht, as I lived in Mainz 🙂 Now I teach German and try to include cultural events. But it’s hard to teach something you’ve never experienced. I’ve done a lot of research, but you really summed it all up beautifully! Danke!!!
As a 3rd generation son of German immigrants, perhaps the whole interest in things German is a bit much, but there’s nowhere else I’d rather be for the “fifth season.” I’ve done Karneval in Koeln, Fastnacht in Mainz, but what I have come to truly love is Fasnet in southwest Germany. The Schwäbisch Alemannisch secret. Bad Waldsee is the place I have been 4 or 5 times and it’s truly a unique experience. Much less commercial, a little more pagan, deeply traditional and so much laughter and fun. The Narren Ruf is “Aha!” and I truly hope to say that again very, very soon!
WOW Karen, you sure done an outstanding job here. Of course when I lived in Germany I went to all the Fastnacht parties. But I have to say, I sure learned so much more from the way you explained Fastnacht here. Vielen lieben Dank.
BTW, I belonged to a Turnverein for many years. I was pretty good at it. Wished I could still move like that. Happy Fasching everyone. Gigi Hammer.
I would love to see photos of you during your Turnverein days!
This is great, I really want to go. What does “alaaf” mean?
Ja FastNacht war schön. Wir hatten auch Kappen Abend. Jedes Local hat seinen eigenen Kappen Abend. Sie haben Musik und eine Bar und jeder hat verrückte Kappen auf.
This “freedom under the French. No freedom under Prussian” thing is really simplified and does not truly apply here. The French also banned some things, including public carnival events to some degree. And they introduced new burdens like conscription into the French army. Other new things were liked, but the French occupation was hardly universally loved. The militaristic marching and the early 19th century uniforms were introduced to mock French soldiers.
WE lived in the Eifel area near Trier in 1968 (bit before and after. My husband and his best friend went to Munich during the fesitval for a couple of days…. I think they spent the whole time in a beer garden there! Even brought home one of those lg beer steins they served beer in! I was too pregnant to go… and the other guy’s wife had 2 young sons – so we stayed home! Loved, loved Germany! (but didn’t learn very much of the language, as everyone wanted to speak English!
Sounds like a fun trip… next time, you go too!
Memories, that is what you provide for all the German Girls in America. Guys too. Thank you Karen.
Heidi
THank you!