Colorful costumes, flavorful cuisine, and satirical performances that scare away the evil spirits of wintertime: This is Fasching (pre-Lenten carnival) in Germany! A grandiose celebration on par with Oktoberfest in Germany, Fasching is a time of transition out of the frigid winter months into spring and a chance to let loose before the solemn period of reflection Lent brings. Discover the unique traditions of Fasching and how you can join in the fun as a first-timer.
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What does Fasching celebrate in Germany?
Fasching celebrates the final festive days in Germany before Lent begins in the Christian calendar. Throughout history, Lent has required weeks of fasting and restraint from certain indulgences like meat. Communities take the days leading up to this religious period of self-discipline as an opportunity to enjoy rich food, social events, and live entertainment.
Fasching’s history of celebration
The origins of Fasching in Germany have been lost to time. However, the oldest mention of the festive celebration comes from the 13th-century poem Parzival. As a Mittelhochdeutsch (Middle High German) epic poem, it refers to the festival as vasnacht, which would later linguistically evolve to the term Fasching, as it’s known and loved today.
In pre-Christian Germany, Fasching was a celebration focused on chasing away winter spirits and ushering in the warmth of spring with satirical performances and lively costumes. By the Middle Ages, Fasching formed permanent cultural ties to the days leading up to Lent, much like Mardi Gras.
The many names of Fasching
Did you know there are at least 8 different names for Fasching used around Germany? Thanks to its centuries-long standing in German culture and the plethora of German dialects, the pre-Lenten festival goes by many names.
| Name for Fasching | Pronunciation | Region of Germany |
| Fasching | FAH-shing | most of East Germany, most commonly used name |
| Fasenacht | FAH-zuh-nahkt | area surrounding Koblenz in Southwestern Germany |
| Faslam | FAHS-lahm | area surrounding Hamburg |
| Fasnet | FAHS-net | area surrounding Freiburg and Stuttgart |
| Fasteleer | FAHS-tuh-lehr | small area surrounding Cologne |
| Fastelovend | FAHS-tuh-loh-vent | small region to the East and West of Cologne |
| Fastnacht | FAHST-nahkt | Southwestern Germany, around Trier and Mannheim |
| Karneval | kar-nuh-VAL | Northwest Germany and area surrounding Dresden |
When locals celebrate Fasching
Germans celebrate Fasching during the six days between the Thursday and Tuesday that lead up to Ash Wednesday. Because the calendar date of Fasching relies on Ash Wednesday, celebrations can take place anywhere from early February to early March. These are the height of Fasching celebrations, but the season of Fasching is said to start at exactly 11:11 a.m. on November 11.
Unlike in the US, where holidays are largely restricted to a single day, Germany commonly views holiday celebrations as periods of time. For example, Christmas in Germany contains traditions that extend over four weeks! If you’re looking to join in on the fun, be sure to check the dates for the specific year in which you plan to participate in Fasching.
Thursday: Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival Thursday)
Step aside, gents, the first official Fastnacht day of celebration is reserved for the ladies! Weiberfastnacht commemorates the first time the women of Germany stormed the town hall in 1824 and, symbolically, took over the city government. A mock government was elected, local political figures were formed into caricatures, and this was all seen as good fun!
A popular tradition during Weiberfastnacht is women cutting men’s ties with scissors. This is done in good fun and spirit, and ladies are generally expected to give the man a small kiss in return. The cutting of the tie represents a symbolic “cutting of ties” with masculinity for women during this time in Fasching.
Friday: Karnevalsfreitag/Faschingsfreitag (Carnival Friday)
Faschingsfreitag is the second day of Karneval in Germany. It is not as symbolically important as other days in the celebration, but it does carry over the partying that began the day before into the weekend and maintains the momentum of fun.
On this day, some schools and workplaces encourage wearing costumes. Many towns present smaller parades compared to those later in the celebration, and you can find themed parties hosted in restaurants, clubs, and local event halls.
Saturday: Karnevalssamstag/Faschingssamstag (Carnival Saturday)
As the weekend officially begins, Faschingssamstag draws larger crowds as more businesses shut down for the holiday season. Elaborate costume balls, themed parties, and social events start to dominate as Fasching celebrations come fully underway. Spend extra time on your costume, because these gatherings also have contests and prizes for the best outfits!
Sunday: Tulpensonntag (Tulip Sunday)
As the first major day of large parades, Tulpensonntag is a day of elegant pageantry. Spectators line up along the streets in major cities like Cologne and Munich to view elaborately designed Kamelle (floats) and collect the candy thrown from them. The air on this day is electric, filled with live music and cheering crowds, while still remaining family-friendly.
True to its name, many Kamelle that roll out on this day in Fasching are adorned with Tulips. These special flowers are the theme for the day, inspiring parties, floats, and costumes alike.
Monday: Rosenmontag (Rose Monday)
Rosenmontag is known as the largest and most famous day of Fasching in Germany. Other than themed parties with intricate costumes, celebrants can enjoy political satire in the form of the largest parades of the festival. Humorous criticisms of recent events or political figures keep the atmosphere light, so don’t take it too personally!
Tuesday: Faschingsdienstag (Shrove Tuesday)
The final day of Fasching savors the final moments of the festivities with continued parties, live entertainment, food, and other social gatherings. Some regions close out the holiday season with symbolic ceremonies like burning effigies or burying crafted symbols of the festival. This transitions the care-free time of Fasching into the reflective period of Lent.
How you can celebrate Fasching like a German
Does Fasching sound like a blast to you? There are plenty of ways you can join in the fun, even if you don’t speak German. Fasching is a time to relax social rules and embrace the silly community it inspires, so don’t worry about embarrassing yourself!
Dressing up for Fasching
Donning a colorful costume resembling a character from a fairy tale, a prominent figure from history, or even an animal is an excellent way to get into the spirit of Fasching. Often, these costumes include a mask, which allows you to symbolically cut ties with who you are outside the festival.
Social rules are relaxed during this time, so celebrants of all ages can feel confident dressing up, whether you take the fun, colorful approach or the silly, satirical route with our costume. All that matters is that your costume is bright, creative, and appropriate for an outdoor, public setting.
Attend Karnevalssitzungen (carnival sessions) and Fasching parades
As a festive centerpiece, large cities in Germany such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Munich host joyous parades and performances during Fasching. You can expect to see politically satirical floats during these parades, and those riding in the floats even throw candy at the audience! These parades can feature controversial opinions, so don’t take anything too personally if you see a float you don’t agree with. It’s all in the name of harmless fun!
Indoors, you can also find Karnevalssitzungen hosted in major cities, especially in the Rhineland region of Germany. Within, live performances are organized and held for the celebrant’s pleasure. Historically, these performances were a way to ward off Winter spirits, but today they’re intended for simple entertainment’s sake.
Foods to try during Fasching
Many famous German delicacies are available during Fasching. When it comes to food, what is Germany known for? Within Fasching celebrations, you’re more likely to come across street foods like pastries, savory snacks, and especially a Berliner (jelly doughnut). While the cultural focus isn’t on massive social meals during this time like it is during Ertnedankfest, there are still plenty of traditionally German delicacies to sample.
Burn your Fasching sins away with the Nubbel (straw man)
Similar to the US Burning Man festival, some cities in Germany cap off their Fasching with a ceremonial burning of a straw man. The straw man is intended to absorb all the sins committed during this festive, let-loose occasion and pay the price for them, so the public doesn’t have to.
There are many names for this straw-hewn scapegoat that vary by city and celebration. In Cologne, he’s known as the Nubble, while he goes by Hoppeditz in Düsseldorf and Bacchus in the Ruhr region. Either way, as the fires of the Nubbel die down, so too do the festivities of Fasching come to an end.
Fasching’s biggest celebration in Cologne
If you want to enjoy Fasching in the heart of its celebration, look no further than Cologne. Massive crowds, to the tune of millions, flock to Karneval in Cologne every year to witness the famous parades and revel in decadent parties. Keep in mind the popular salutation Alaaf!, which is commonplace in Cologne’s Fasching. It’s said in the spirit of “long live Cologne.”
Ways Fasching is celebrated outside of Germany
German-speaking countries outside of Germany itself also host Fasching celebrations. Though they’re generally much smaller than those held in Germany, these communities celebrate in many of the same ways, with elaborate costumes, themed parties, and parades that mimic those in Cologne, albeit at a much smaller scale.
Frequently asked questions about Fasching
In Germany, Fasching is a beloved period of celebration and excess engaged by the population before the Lenten time of restraint and reflection. Here are the three am häufigsten gestellten Fragen (most frequently asked questions) about Fasching.
Are there any Fasching traditions specific to children?
Yes, other than family-friendly events like Fasching parades, children have their own place in the celebrations. Small classroom parties called Kinderkarneval (Children’s Karneval) are commonplace during this time. Kids eat sweet treats, dance to music, and dress up in colorful costumes, much like the adults of Germany do, but in a safe and regulated environment.
What is a Stunksitzung, and how is it different from a Karnevalssitzung?
A Stunksitzung is a type of Karnevalssitzung that is less aimed at family-friendly content. The boundaries are pushed a little further, with suggestive performances and satire that extend beyond political topics to societal norms and more. You can find Stunksitzungen in major cities like Cologne and attend them if you don’t have particularly young children with you.
How long are Fasching parades typically?
While Fasching parades vary in size and duration, major parades during Rosenmontag in large cities across Germany can get several kilometers long. Spectators can expect an experience lasting four to six hours in these cases. Smaller towns with more modest parades typically come in at closer to one or two hours long.
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