Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany -- Germany’s biggest bash is Fasching, celebrated Feb. 23 through 28 this year where the entire country, including the Eifel will celebrate good times prior to the start of Lent.
During Fasching or Fastnacht, often referred to as Germany’s Foolish or Silly Season, thousands of clubs are hosting costume balls, dances and Kappensitzungen, or fun sessions, with most events starting off at 11 minutes past the 11th hour – an odd number that adds to the fun and silliness of Fasching.
Fasching is observed differently depending on the part of the country you’re in. However, there is no doubt that the most popular celebrations occur in the Rhineland, very close to Spangdahlem AB, and these begin on Fat Thursday, on Feb. 23, with Weiberfastnacht, or Ladies Fasching.
This day is devoted to the ladies in Germany. The women dress up in colorful costumes with masks, referred to as “Moehnen,” which means nothing more than “the old ladies”. On Ladies Fasching, the Moehnen traditionally walk through the communities, pulling jokes on people, especially local politicians. They will visit business owners, city halls other local authorities.
In many towns to include the local cities of Bitburg, Wittlich and Speicher, it is a tradition for the ladies to ‘capture’ the local Rathauses or city halls and take over the city key from the mayor. This always happens at 11:11 a.m. In some communities, the intruders will set up a ladder and climb through the window into the Rathaus, like it is the case in Wittlich. This is a great spectacle, observed by local residents who all enjoy the events every time they happen. Once the ladies seize the key they are in charge of the city or community for that day. Typically a band plays Fasching music and the women serve refreshments and traditional Fasching treads, in some areas including a pea soup and baked goodies.
On Fat Thursday, it is customary for the ladies to walk around and cut off men’s ties with scissors. They like post and show off the cut ties on a board, which they will carry with them. The safest thing for men is probably not to wear one that day. However, for those gentlemen who would like to support the tradition, it is of course a nice thing to wear an old and ugly tie for the capturing. The meaning of the tie cutting tradition is that the male authorities symbolically lose their authority power with the loss of the tie for.
A third tradition on Ladies Fasching sometimes includes local children standing in the streets of the villages, stopping cars. They pretend that they will not move unless you stop and pay them a small toll. Although it is not required to pay the fee, it is recommended to slow down and be very careful when driving around the youth. No one really knows where the road toll tradition started.
Although most communities in Germany, regardless of size, will conduct a Fasching parade, Feb. 25-26, the most famous and gigantic German parades always happen on Rose Monday in the cities of Cologne, Mainz and Duesseldorf, in most cities along the Rhine River as well as in Aachen and Munich. Over the years, these events have become an important economic factor for those cities and their states, since the fancy parades and balls cost millions of Euros.
Thousands of observers stand in the streets, cheering, singing and dancing. Children bring bags along to collect the candies and sweets that the Fasching fools hand out or throw into the crowd. Don’t forget to bring a camera.
For people who cannot make it to a parade or would like to get a taste of the Rhineland Fasching, without actually being involved in the celebrations, Germany’s most famous city parades will be aired live on television all day on Rose Monday.
Masquerade balls are a lot of fun also. People will participate in Fasching and masquerade balls between now and Feb. 28. at either a local guesthouse’s hall or a public spot in town. Everyone can dress up. Typically at masquerade balls prizes are given away to the nicest costumes or best ideas, if contestants wear a mask between 9:30 p.m. and midnight.
After Fasching, on Ash Wednesday, Lent starts. Some communities will have a farewell celebration the night before and they burn Fasching traditions. This is also an interesting event to see.
Beware that consumption of alcohol is involved with Fasching and police controls will be enforced throughout the Fasching season. In order to stay out of trouble, people need to arrange for transportation after consuming alcohol at Fasching celebrations.
Local Fasching parades will take place in:
Osann-Monzel, Feb. 24, 6:33 p.m.
Speicher, Feb. 25, 2:11 p.m.
Ehlenz, Feb. 25, 2:11 p.m.
Koerperich, Feb. 25, 3:11 p.m.
Idenheim, Feb. 25, 7:11 p.m.
Klausen, Feb. 25, 3:11 p.m.
Zeltingen-Rachtig, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.
Bitburg, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Wittlich, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Biersdorf, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Kyllburg, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Kruchten, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Preist, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Bruch, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Plein, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Platten, Feb. 26, 3:11 p.m.
Bettingen, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Hetzerath, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Bausendorf, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Bruch, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Burg-Salm, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Graach, Feb. 26, 6:11 p.m.
Salmtal, Feb. 26, 2:11 p.m.
Dreis, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Gladbach, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Hupperath, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Kroev, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Lieser, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Orenhofen, Feb. 27, 1:45 p.m.
Trier, Rose Monday, Feb. 27, 12:11 p.m.
Oberweis, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Ferschweiler, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Landscheid, Feb. 27, 2:11 p.m.
Eisenschmitt, Feb. 28, 2:11 p.m
Bollendorf, Feb. 28, 2:11 p.m.
Sehlem-Esch, Feb. 28, 2:11 p.m.
Piesport, Feb. 28, 2:11 p.m.