Season five under the microscope: What does Fasnacht actually mean?

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What is Fasnacht?

• Carnival is a Christian tradition. It is celebrated with enthusiasm before the six-week period of Lent.

• Carnival is considered the fifth season in many regions.

Where does tradition come from?

• During Carnival, people do everything that is “forbidden” during Lent: they eat meat, fat and eggs, drink alcohol and even have sex.

• This comes from the Middle Ages. Lent was observed much more strictly then than it is today.

• Therefore, people had to consume all their supplies. They also wanted to enjoy the time before fasting to the fullest.

When does the carnival start?

• It became common practice for Carnival to start on November 11th.

• It is linked to Lent before Easter.

• Therefore, it reaches its peak in the week from “Dirty Thursday” to “Ash Wednesday”.

Where does the word carnival come from?

• Fasnacht comes from the Old High German words “Fasta” and “Naht”.

• “Fasta” means Lent and “Naht” means night or eve.

• Originally the name Fasnacht referred only to the day before the beginning of Lent.

Why do we dress up at carnival?

• The church did not like the carnival season with its enthusiastic events.

• Carnival was seen as godless and evil. In their world, the figure of the fool reigned.

• Back then, people dressed up as devils or fools to protest the church.

• Today other figures, such as animals or wild men, also participate in the masquerade.

Where is the biggest carnival celebrated in Switzerland?

• The biggest carnival celebration is held in Basel with “Morgestraich”.

• Begins at 4:00 a.m. on the Monday after “Ash Wednesday.”

• The whole city is dark. The only light comes from the lanterns of the carnival groups.

• Up to 100,000 people celebrate in Basel.

• Basel flour soup is served as a refreshment during “Morgestraich”. This flour, consisting of flour and water, was previously eaten as breakfast by poor families.

• In general: Depending on the canton in Switzerland, celebrations take place at slightly different times.

Source : Blick