Fasnet

Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), the day before the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, is celebrated throughout the Catholic regions of southern Germany and Switzerland. After having experienced the Carnevale parade in Rome (see previous blog entry), we drove to the small town of Villingen in the Black Forest in order to experience their local Carnival traditions. In High German, the day before Ash Wednesday is called "Fastnacht" or "Fasching," but in Alemannic dialect it is known as "Fasnet."

In Villingen, the day is celebrated with a massive parade featuring numerous guilds from towns and villages around the vicinity. Some of the groups dress in traditional costumes. Some are marching bands. Some are fools that provide the topsy-turvy no-holds-barred comedy typical of the season. There are clowns, horses, witches, birds, and mice. The "Putzesel" (Sweeping Donkey) is whipped through through the streets dragging a pine bough behind him, and is rewarded with a ring sausage placed upon his ears at every butcher shop that he passes.

Many of the groups throw treats (candy or a tiny bottle of schnapps) to bystanders who participate in the appropriate call-and-response. When the fools shout "Narri," we reply "Narro." If you chant the following poem, you might get a treat: "Giezig, giezig, giezig -- Greedy, greedy, greedy / greedy is the old woman / if she weren't so greedy / she would give us a little treat." We shout "meow" to the cats. For some reason, when the "Babies" shout "Rebaba," we reply "Ahoy!" It is all very strange and weird and lots of fun!
https://picasaweb.google.com/SteveDC505/Fastnet#