It is time for yet another blog entry. This time it is all about Fastnacht (Fas(s)enacht, Karneval etc.), Carneval. Alongside other countries -the most famous being probably Brazil and Spain- Carneval is celebrated in many parts of Germany. It depends very much on the region; You would find it being celebrated mostly in the southwest of Germany. The town I grew up in doesn´t celebrate Fastnacht very much, the neighbouring town, Dieburg, however, does not only celebrate it but actually has the carneval club (KarnevalsVerein Dieburg) with the most members in Germany.
The Fastnachtszeit starts on November the 11th at eleven past 11 (So 11th of 11th month at 11:11, can you spot the pattern? ;-) ) and ends in February just before the Fastenzeit (the lent), which starts on Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday). During that time there are lots of Karnevalssitzungen (carneval`s session), in which you have Karnevalsmusik (oompah oompah music), dances (traditionally dancers are called Funkenmariechen) and jokes, whose quality is debatable.
The weekend before Aschermittwoch is the highlight of what is sometimes called die Fünfte Jahreszeit (fifth season). People, even adults, dress up and go to parties or just meet in the street to celebrate Strassenfastnacht (carneval in the street). On Tuesday or Monday, depending on where you are, Fastnachtsumzüge (processions) take place, where people, who are dressed up, walk through the streets and throw sweets, Kamelle, for the children to catch or to pick up . Originally used to welcome the spring, Karneval now is used to celebrate on last time before the fasten starts. So people use their last chance, Faschingsdienstag (shrove tuesday, which some of you might know as pancake tuesday) to enjoy the thing they want to give up for lent to the fullest.
To set themselves apart from other towns, you have a special way of greeting eachother. In Köln it would be "Kölle Alaaf", in Düsseldorf "Düsseldorf Helau" and in Dieburg, the town i went to school, "Dibborsch Äla"
So have a nice term break and Dibborsch ÄLA
