Carnival fever in February
Switzerland is experiencing carnival fever in February
In Switzerland, a carnival gives the normally well-behaved Swiss a reason to enjoy themselves and become a bit wild if you allow the expression.
Carnival season, also known as Fasnacht in German-speaking regions of Switzerland, is a time of chaos and merriment. In addition to its origins as a sacrificial practice in German history, it was used as a time to let loose before Lent, to drive away demons, and to celebrate the end of winter.
It is customary in Switzerland to begin the carnival season on Dirty Thursday, the Thursday before Lent. In some cities, however, the carnival season is celebrated until May. In addition, the dates of Lent change each year because it typically begins 40 days before Easter. This year, the Swiss carnivals will peak the week before Ash Wednesday, March 2, and the week after.
In many Swiss cities, Fasnacht is a significant event. Just as Rio has its samba tradition, various Swiss cities have Fasnacht customs worn with enthusiasm. Carnival fever in February
Fasnacht refers to the night before fasting as a medieval Christian practice. Before Easter, it was a wild celebration presumed to end by Ash Wednesday, the first day of the 40-day fast, in which meat, alcohol, and festivities were not allowed. However, people were undoubtedly serious about their partying when they had that prospect before them. In addition to scaring away winter, the custom also makes way for spring.
Fasnacht was a time when everything was on its head, authorities could be mocked without fear of repercussion, and parody and satire were everywhere. The tradition of poking fun at the power still exists in some places around Switzerland today.
The perfect example of this carnival madness is the one happening in Lucerne every year.
24th February-1st March – The Lucerne Carnival
Lucerne has one of the liveliest and loudest carnivals in Switzerland.
Many Fasnacht associations, guilds, or brass bands (guggemusig) in Luzern prepare their music routines throughout the year in preparation for this carnival celebration. They are particularly proud of their arty masks, referred to as “grende”. You will realize how much work and time Lucerne’s devoted to making these masks once you view them. As the city transforms into a festival city, there is music, decorations, and crowds of revellers participating in the celebrations.
Lucerne goes wild for a few days. Hundreds of people in fantastic masks perform horrendously loud music with trumpets, horns, and drums in the streets.
If you decide to visit, you will notice that Lucerne residents, the usually very self-controlled crowd, turn the city into a centre of joy and happiness. Carnival fever in February
It all lasts from February 24, 2022 – Monday, February 28, 2022
A shotgun marks the start of the fiesta on Dirty Thursday (Schmutziger Donnerstag) at 5 am, the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Honourable citizens observe the city square from the windows of the city hall and signal the start of the fiesta with a shotgun.
A parade with brass bands and loud drums begins at 2 pm. This is the first crazy parade because of the colourful costumes and noise. While the noise of drums and trumpets fills the city streets following the formal procession, the bands wander through the streets.
After a short rest following the carnival, the city wakes up to a loud, colourful parade at noon on Fat Monday, which begins in the old town. The music continues until midnight.
On Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), there are two highlights; the children’s parade and the monsters’ parade (Monschter Korso), which takes place in the evening from Seebrücke to Löwengraben. The drummers continued to make noise until the morning of Wednesday (Ash Wednesday).
But Lucerne is not the only place in Switzerland having such a blast time during Carnival season. So stay tuned, and we will inform you about more exciting and wordy carnivals and events to visit during February.
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Photo by Uwe Conrad on Unsplash
