Carneval, "Fasching" and "Fastnacht" in Germany

The "crazy days" of snipped-off ties and blackened faces

The six days preceding Ash Wednesday are known in Germany as the "crazy days" as carnival begins in earnest. In the Rhineland region, festivities start on the Thursday, a day known as "women's carnival". Women literally assume power and symbolically storm the town halls in many places. Men are advised to wear an old tie since the women are liable to cut it off on that day and compensate the bereft wearer with a kiss.

This particular Thursday is known in other regions as "fat" or "dirty" Thursday. The name goes back to the tradition of slaughtering an animal on this day for the last meal before the fasting period begins. To prevent the fat from going bad people cooked food which was particularly rich in fat or else used the grease for baking.

"Sooty Friday" gained its name from an old custom according to which children daubed their faces with soot. Fewer festivities are held on this day. From Saturday onwards, parades stretching for several kilometres at a time are held in towns and villages. The most important days are Rose Monday and to a lesser extent Shrove Tuesday.