Fasching or carnival time is still not over in Germany. It is still going on and will end on Ash Wednesday (Aschermittwoch in German). I am happy to witness again the Faschingszug or carnival parade in Dietfurt, a town in the district of Neumarkt in Bavaria, Germany.

The Fasching in this town is quite unique because of their theme where they always celebrate the Chinese Fasching or carnival. No wonder last Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, Mr. Wang, the General Consulate of China in Munich also visited this carnival.


Around 11,000 guests and visitors from near and far witnessed the said celebration. Thousands of sweets, chocolates and candies were thrown to the spectators especially to the children as give-aways. Singing, dancing, shouting, making fun and yes drinking are always present in any carnival in Germany.

I guess the Fasching images I have below will explain it more to you! Killi Wau! this is the shout of Chinese carnival in Dietfurt!

I and some friends are planning to drive to the region of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on February 18, 2012. We are also planning to stop-by in Cologne. Since it is carnival season in Germany, I am trying to search when will be the Faschingszug or carnival parade in Cologne. This city is one of the famous ones that celebrates carnival in Germany. Kölner which are referred to the people living in Cologne calls carnival as "Fastelovend" in the local Kölsch dialect.


I found out from Cologne Tourist site that the famous street parade will officially start on February 16, 2012 which will be held in the Alter Markt (Old Market). The official carnival parade which is the highlight of the carnival will take place on Rosenmontag or Rose Monday which will be on February 20, 2012. More than 12,000 "fools" and over 120 bands will take part of the said parade.

I guess we cannot witness the highlight of the program but we will for sure see a lot of people wearing carnival costumes when we will be in Cologne this coming weekend.

I found old photos in my albums taken during the faschingszug (carnival parade) in Breitenbrunn in Bavaria. It was almost four years ago and I can still remember the fun I had while watching the carnival celebration there.

Fasching also called as Karneval, Fashnacht, Fastnet and many other terms being called by Germans, is known as carnival in English. It is already a part of German customs and traditions dating back in the 19th century.

If you are visiting Germany during this season, be sure to watch one. Small towns and villages are sometimes organizing carnival parades and Faschingsball (carnival ball). I already witnessed a few ones in the region of Bavaria. One of it was in Breitenbrunn last 2008.

When other countries like the U.S., Italy, Brazil, etc. celebrate carnivals, Germany has its own carvinal too! Germans call it Fasching or Karvenal. It is also called as Fastnacht or Fastnet. In short, we will just call it simply carnival. Witnessing carnivals in the different places and cities in Germany can be a vibrant and delightful experience. Each place has its own way of celebrating it and it is always a joyous and festive event.

Top of the cities in Germany which are famous for its carnival celebrations include Mainz, Cologne and Düsseldorf. Don't miss to watch the Faschingszug or canival parade or maybe attend a Faschingsball (carnival ball). For sure you can see a lot of people celebrating on the streets with their colorful costumes with various motives and designs. Giant and beautifully decorated floats are always present in a carnival parade in Germany.

This is one of the celebrations I love in this country!

Fasching time is over in Germany. Today is Ash Wednesday and for Christian's belief especially for the Catholics, it is a day of repentance and the beginning of Lenten Season. It also means that the day before Ash Wednesday is the end of the fasching or carnival celebration. The Fasching, also called in German language as Fastnacht, Karneval, Fastnet depending on the place or city where it is celebrated.

Last Sunday, March 6, 2011, we witnessed the Faschingszug or carnival parade in Hemau, a town in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. We did not expect that they also had a very lively and interesting carnival parade. Here are some of the images we took that day.

It is still Fasching time in Germany. If you happen to read about my previous posts about Fasching, you will probably have an idea of what it is. It is also called in English as carnival or carnaval. What do you expect when you say carnival? Actually, the highlight of this event can be seen and witnessed during the parade, where you will find people wearing costumes of different designs, colors and masks for example are also being used.

If you happen to visit a German Fasching or carnival, you are free to shout "Helau" or "Alaaf". I finally figured this out after watching some carnivals in the nearby towns like in Breitenbrunn, Velburg and Dietfurt.

Here are some images taken from the Fasching or carnival in Breitenbrunn. It is a municipality in Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany.



The Carnival spirit is then temporarily suspended during Advent and Christmas, and picks up again in earnest in the New Year. The time of merrymaking in the streets is officially declared open at the Alter Markt during the Cologne Carnival on the Thursday before the beginning of Lent. The main event is the street carnival that takes place in the period between the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday. Carnival Thursday is called Altweiber (Old women day) in Düsseldorf or Wieverfastelovend (The women's day) in Cologne. wikipedia

Fasching time in Germany is almost coming. It is a kind of festival celebrated in the whole of Germany. I usually starts in November and ends sometime in February or early March. During the Fasching parade, you can see a participants wearing colourful and attractive pirate costumes, witch costumes, Halloween costumes and many others. You can see for example some costumes they wore during the Fasching parade in Breitenbrunn in my image here. Hubby took this image last 2008. Feel free to browse my carnival category for more images of the costumes worn during Fasching festival in Germany.

Fasching or Carnival festival in Germany is over now. I don't have the chance to see the fasching celebration in Velburg because I was so tired last Sunday. I arrived that day and I felt very tired which was the reason why I have not witness the said festival. I still have some photos to share taken from last year's Carnival in Velburg, a town in Bavaria, Germany.

Carnival (Carnaval, Καρναβάλι (Carnavali), Carnevale, Carnestoltes, Carnaval, Karneval, Carnaval and Karnawal in Portuguese, Greek, Italian, Catalan, French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Polish languages) is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life. (excerpts from wikipedia)

I came back quite late to witness the Fasching or Carnival in Dietfurt. Fasching which is also called Karneval or Fastnacht in German or Carnaval or carnival in English is a kind of festival which occurs immediately before lent. Today is called Fasching Dienstag in German language. It is also known as Shrove Tuesday, a day before Ash Wednesday. The picture you see below is a Chinese Fasching from Feb. 2009 in Dietfurt in Bavaria, Germany. We had fun witnessing it lasts year. It was one of the best carnival I had seen in Upper Palatinate in the state of Bavaria, Germany.

This is a photo taken last February 2009 during the Fasching or Carnival in Velburg, a town in Neumarkt Upper Palatinate in the state of Bavaria. It's not really big Fasching compared to the neighboring towns like Dietfurt or Breitenbrunn but it is still worthy of seeing. Feel free to browse the labels in my sidebar for more photos.

Fasching or carnival, also called carnaval by others is a festival held in Germany held every year in different cities and places here. Dietfurt for example, a municipality in Bavaria has a so-called Chinese Fasching. Their main theme is about Chinese carnival like featuring and wearing Chinese costumes. That was awesome seeing different costumes and motives of the different groups who participated this celebration. This is my MYM post. Sorry for being late!


Click the logo to visit the blog. Feel free to join this wonderful meme especially if you love yellow. Thanks to the Author Drowsey Monkey for hosting this beautiful meme. Happy Mellow Yellow Monday!

Last Tuesday is the so-called Faschingsdienstag or Shrove Tuesday. It is the last day wherein, the people especially in Germany celebrate the carnival or carnaval time. It usually ends on Tuesday midnight. During Faschingsdienstag, people make fun of politicians or any funny stories of somebody or something. I usually watch it every night on TV especially the Fasching or carnival in Cologne, Mainz, Duesseldorf, Franken and more places here. Since I already understand most basic German language, I can say that watching Fasching in television here in Germany is truly fun and entertaining. I love especially their colorful and beautifully designed customs..here are some infos about Faschingsdienstag or Shrove Tuesday..I should have shared this last Tuesday but sorry guys, I am just too busy.

Faschingsdienstag or Shrove Tuesday is a term used in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia for the day preceding the first day of the Christian season of fasting and prayer called Lent.


The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by way of Confession and doing penance. Thus Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving that English Christians were expected to do prior to receiving absolution immediately before Lent begins. Shrove Tuesday is the last day of "shrovetide", somewhat analogous to the Carnival tradition that developed separately in countries of Latin Europe. The term "Shrove Tuesday" is no longer widely known in the United States outside of Liturgical Traditions, such as the Lutheran, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic Churches. Because of the increase in many immigrant populations and traditions since the 19th century "Mardi Gras" is much more widely-used.

The festival is widely associated with the eating of foods such as pancakes, and often known simply as Pancake Day, originally because these used up ingredients such as fat and eggs, the consumption of which was traditionally restricted during Lent. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday

Der Faschingsdienstag (in Köln Karnevalsdienstag, weit verbreitet auch Veilchendienstag) ist die Bezeichnung für den letzten der närrischen Tage, den Tag zwischen Rosenmontag und Aschermittwoch (Dienstag nach Estomihi). Als letzter Tag vor dem Beginn der Fastenzeit kommt ihm in vielen Regionen eine besondere Bedeutung zu. In einigen Regionen, in denen Karneval gefeiert wird, stellt er den Höhepunkt der Feiertage dar. International ist dieser Tag auch als Mardi Gras oder Shrove Tuesday bekannt. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faschingsdienstag

This was taken by yours truly in Dietfurt's Chinese Fasching last Thursday Feb. 19, 2009. This is a unique one because most participants of the parade had different Chinese customs and motifs. Some were dressed like witches, Neanthertal men, animals and a lot more. These ladies in the photo wore Chinese dresses and have some colorful make-ups on their faces..I enjoyed the parade..truly entertaining!! helau!!

What is really special for today in Germany? What celebration does German people celebrates today? I did not knew it until my husband told me after he came home from work this afternoon. I told him why you did not tell me that so that I can watch the live parades on TV. It was too late now!! I don't know if they will going to rewind it tonight or maybe tomorrow..But sad to say, I won't be home tomorrow too. Actually today is the so called "Rosenmontag" in Germany. It is one of the liveliest and exciting events during the year. I need now to consult the expert in Wikipedia to let you know more infos about Rosenmontag which is the higlight of the German Carnival. ..here it is!!




Rosenmontag (which means "running Monday" from the Kölsch word roose (run) and not Roses' Monday) is the highlight of the German "Karneval" (carnival), and is on the Collop Monday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The "Mardi Gras," though celebrated on Tuesday, is a comparison. Rosenmontag is celebrated in German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but most heavily in the "Hochburgen", German carnival strongholds, which include the Rhineland (especially Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen, and Mainz). The Karneval season begins at 11 minutes past the eleventh hour on the 11th of November and the "street carnival" starts on the Thursday before Rosenmontag, which is known as Weiberfastnacht ("women's carnival"). Karneval is prevalent in Roman Catholic areas and is a continuation of the old Roman traditions of slaves and servants being master for a day. Karneval derives from the Latin "Carne Vale" - literally Goodbye Meat marking the beginning of Lent. Carnival is not a national holiday in Germany, but schools are closed on Rosenmontag and the following Tuesday in the strongholds and many other areas. Many schools as well as companies tend to give teachers, pupils and employees the Friday before Rosenmontag off as well and have celebrations in school or in the working place on Weiberfastnacht, although every now and then there are efforts to cut these free holidays in some companies. Celebrations usually include dressing up in fancy costumes, dancing, parades, heavy drinking and general public displays with floats. Every town in the Karneval areas boats at least one parade with floats making fun of the themes of the day. Usually sweets (Kamelle) are thrown into the crowds lining the streets among cries of "Helau" (Mainz area) or "Alaaf" (Cologne area). Little bottles of Kölnischwasser (eau de Cologne) are thrown into the crowd. Things go quiet the next day, known as "Veilchendienstag" (Shrove Tuesday). A Flock of Seagulls recorded a song called "Rosenmontag" for their 1983 album Listen. The song was eventually used as a b-side and consisted of Arthur Baker-inspired hip-hop beats with guitar noise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenmontag

This was taken last year in Carnival or Fasching in Breitenbrunn here in Germany last year. I am excited to see the Chinese Fasching in Dietfurt tomorrow. I hope that it is not going to rain or snow. You might be thinking that German people are boring? You are mistaken, they love to party and have some fun too!! Fasching is one of their celebration which is celebrated in every town and cities in whole Germany. I have to take a small break now to watch the Fasching in Duesseldorf over the television..see you later folks..I promise to share more photos about fasching in Dietfurt tomorrow. have fun viewing the photos!!

Helau!! This is the shout of the Fasching in Germany. I am excited this coming Thursday because we will be witnessing again the Chinese Fasching in Dietfurt. The first time I was there was in 2007 where I took this photo. I was not able to go back last year because my husband forgot to submit a vacation leave. Two days more and I can see this very beautiful Carnival again in Dietfurt. I will be seeing their Parade which is around two hours and after that they will be having some programs. Watch out for more photos in the next days. Fell free to also visit my other sites for more photos!! Have a great evening!! I just watched a fasching or Carnival in Frankfurt over the television.

It is Fasching Time now...you might probably know about it since I already posted some fasching pictures and infos here and in my other sites. This was taken in fasching or carnival in Breitenbrunn last year. Just tonight, I also watch a fasching in the television. It was in Mainz here in Germany. I can't wait to see the Chinese fasching in Dietfurt next week...love it especially their attractive and colorful customs..have a great evening..time for signing-off.