Home » Travel » European Travel » Carnival

Carnival

© Roxanne Nelson

Christmas may be officially over, but the party's just beginning. In various parts of the world, the season best known as Carnival is about to start. Sandwiched in roughly between Epiphany (January 6) and Ash Wednesday, Carnival is symbolized as one last rowdy celebration before the stringencies of that austere and somber period of fasting known as Lent commence. Like Christmas, Carnival undoubtedly has its roots in pagan festivals, which celebrated the winter solstice as well as to exorcise away evil spirits during the transition of winter to spring. In second century Christian Rome, the Fast of the 40 days of Lent was preceded by several days of feasting and frolicking; when the people covered their faces with masks, drank their wineskins empty, and gave in to all of life's pleasures. From Rome the idea of a pre-Lent celebration spread; first to Europe, then to the Americas.

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, USA are two of the more famous ones--celebrations which attract hordes of visitors every year. But carnivals and seasonal celebrations are held all over Europe; some bawdy, some sedate, its all a matter of personal taste. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just a sampling of how some cities prepare for the big (Lenten) event....

Germany

Germany's Fasching is one of the better known carnivals of Europe. Known in Swabia as Fassnacht, in Mainz as Fassenacht, in Cologne as Fasteloovend, and elsewhere as Karneval, Fasching begins on the twelfth night of Christmas and ends on Shrove Tuesday. Along the Rhine, the celebration is known for being particularly boisterous and taken quite seriously as costumed crowds masquerade at parties and parades. Everything comes to a near standstill in Cologne, Mainz and Düsseldorf as they celebrate what's known as the die drei tollen Tage (the three crazy days) - Thursday, Sunday and Monday of Karneval week. In Munich, Fasching is not quite as bawdy as in the Rhineland, but during certain days the pedestrian zone still overflows with costumed party-goers, with food and drink flowing freely. If a person washes their wallet in the Fischbrunnen (fish fountain) on Marienplatz, all of the money spent on partying will be replenished--or so says a Munich tradition. But why take chances, so the mayor dutifully dunks a symbolic purse into the fountain at the designated time.

Belgium

Belgium's most famous carnival is in Binche, located about 34 miles from Brussels. A 3 day event, in 1999 it will take place on February 14, 15 and 16. Time may be short, but during those three days, the streets are packed with costumed crowds d dancing to impromptu orchestras of drummers, organists, and horn players. Add to that parades, and one of the strangest of sights--the March of the Gilles. Six hundred men dressed in identical striped garb, covered with wax masks sporting surrealistic green shades and thin mustaches, and as they march and dance through Binche, they throw oranges to the crowd.