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Get ready to put on your best costume and join in the festivities of Fasching on February 28! This German celebration, also known as Karneval or Fastnacht, is a time for parades, parties, and indulging in delicious foods before the start of Lent. The tradition dates back to medieval times when people would dress up and participate in wild celebrations before the somber period of fasting and reflection. Today, Fasching is celebrated all over Germany with colorful costumes, lively music, and plenty of delicious treats like doughnuts and pastries. So let's get ready to dance, sing, and have a blast on this exciting holiday!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>13th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Fasching Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>Fasching, also known as Karneval, has its origins in the 13th Century, evolving from pagan springtime celebrations and fertility rites.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>17th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Christian Influence</div><div class='timeline-text'>By the 17th Century, Fasching had fully developed as a pre-Lenten celebration with Christian influences.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>19th Century</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Traditional Masks</div><div class='timeline-text'>Traditional wooden masks gained popularity during Fasching processions in the 19th Century, a custom that still prevails today.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1949</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Cologne Carnival Post-WWII</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Carnival celebrations in Cologne, one of the most famous Fasching celebrations, restarted in 1949 following World War II.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2006</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Rose Monday Expansion</div><div class='timeline-text'>Cologne's Fasching parade on Rose Monday extended to a route of 6.7 km, becoming one of the largest in Germany.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Dress up in a costume</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Fasching is all about fun and festivities, so why not embrace the spirit by dressing up in a colorful and creative costume? You can go for traditional German attire or get creative with your own unique costume.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a parade</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Many cities and towns in Germany have Fasching parades, filled with colorful floats, costumes, and lively music. Check out if there is a parade happening near you and join in on the fun!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a Fasching party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your friends and family for a Fasching party! Decorate your home with colorful streamers and balloons, serve traditional German food and drinks, and play games like "musical chairs" or "pin the tail on the donkey".</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make Fasching treats</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative in the kitchen and make some traditional Fasching treats like Krapfen (jam-filled donuts), Pretzels, or Berliner Pfannkuchen (a type of German pastry). You can also try your hand at making traditional Fasching costumes out of gingerbread cookies.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Learn about Fasching traditions</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take the time to learn about the history and traditions of Fasching. You can read up on it online or visit a museum to learn more about this festive holiday. Understanding the background of Fasching will make your celebrations even more meaningful.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a traditional German festival</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Fasching is an annual celebration that originated in Germany and is still widely celebrated there today. It is deeply rooted in German culture and holds significant meaning for those who celebrate it.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a time to let loose and have fun</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Fasching is known for its vibrant costumes, parades, and parties - giving people an opportunity to take a break from their daily lives and simply enjoy themselves. It's a time to forget about worries and responsibilities, and just embrace the festive spirit!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It celebrates the coming of spring</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Fasching typically takes place during the Carnival season, which marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This symbolizes new beginnings and rejuvenation, making Fasching an important cultural event for many people.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Children Play a Key Role in Fasching Celebrations</h3><p class='facts-content'>In many parts of Germany, school children look forward to "Fasching Dienstag," when they can dress up in costumes and participate in parades or parties at their schools, celebrating joy and humor for the whole day.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Fasching Krapfen Donuts have a Prankster History</h3><p class='facts-content'>Not everyone gets a sweet jam filling in their Krapfen donut. Bakers would traditionally hide mustard in a few as a practical joke!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Fasching Initiates "Crazy" Time in Germany</h3><p class='facts-content'>Every 11th of November at 11:11 a.m., Fasching initiates Germany's "fifth season", or "crazy" season, ending on Ash Wednesday with the start of Lent.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The "Nubbel" is Burned at the End of Karneval</h3><p class='facts-content'>In some Fasching celebrations, a straw man called the "Nubbel" is burned to symbolize the scapegoat for any misdeeds during the festivities.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Fasching Costumes Act to Break Social Norms</h3><p class='facts-content'>The masks and costumes worn during Fasching are not only for fun. Historically, they allowed people to break from societal norms and conventions, expressing criticism or satire freely.</p></div></div>
Fasching is celebrated on February 28 every year. In 2024, Fasching will occur on a Wednesday.
2023
Feb 28
Tuesday
2024
Feb 28
Wednesday
2025
Feb 28
Friday
2026
Feb 28
Saturday
2027
Feb 28
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