October 17, 2003, Newsletter Issue #162: German Festivals
Tip of the Week
Karneval (or Fastnacht, Fasnet, Fasching) has a history that goes back into pre-Christian times. It begins in November and continues until Lent. Some carnival activities are scheduled in January and early February, but the real celebration takes place during the last two weeks before Lent. Cologne, Mainz, and Munich are the three big carneval cities, each with its own style of celebration. The term Karneval actually applies only to the festival in Cologne. In Mainz, Karneval goes by the name Fastnacht. In Munich, it is called Fasching. All of these celebrations have a Mardi Gras character, complete with parades, masquerade balls, wild costumes, and much merrymaking. In Swabia, the Karneval takes the form of Fasnet, which has many traces of ancient German cults.
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