Germany celebrates ‘crazy’ season

People who like to dress up in fancy dresses or costumes and pretend to be somebody else have three weeks left to do so. They can do so as long as Germany celebrates its “fifth season,” or “crazy season.”

Different areas of Germany have different names for this season of disguise, when it’s normal to be crazy and wild. In the Pfalz it’s called “Fassenacht” or “Fastnacht.” In Bavaria it’s “Fasching,” and in the Cologne area it’s “Karneval.”

The fifth season officially begins at 11:11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month and ends on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18. Actual events don’t start until the first week of the new year, when carnival clubs crown their new Fastnacht princess or prince. During this event, the mayor hands them the keys to the city or village, thus giving them executive power. Fasching celebrations officially start now.

Typical celebrations and events include: “Maskenball” (masquerade ball), “Faschingstanz” (Fasching dance), “Kinderfasching” (children’s fasching party) and “Prunksitzung” (pomp session). These celebrations are announced on signs, posters or in newspaper advertisements. The fifth season features parties, dances, funny speeches and parades. Visitors of public Fasching events are encouraged to dress up in costumes. If they are not in disguise, they have to pay a higher admission fee when entering Fasching events in community halls, culture centers, sports gyms and other facilities. Some organizations conduct best costume contests and hand out prizes.

Customarily, women do not need a male escort when going to a Fasching dance. In this case, it’s up to the females to ask the men for a dance — and the men better not say “no.”

A typical Fasching event is the “Prunksitzung,” which literally translated means pomp session. Carnival associations usually sponsor and organize this event. Amateur comedians hold, in their local dialect, humorous speeches spiced with sarcasm about local happenings, people or politics. In between speeches, carnival club members sing and present dances. A committee consisting of a president and 11 counselors watch the session from their seats at the back of the stage. After each performance, committee members present medals to the performers.

Fastnacht has its origin in ancient times, when people realized that with the start of a new year, spring would soon be on its way. To make it possible for spring to arrive, the demons of winter had to be chased away. Therefore, people dressed up in evil-looking costumes and masks. They danced in the streets looking like devils, demons and witches and used noise-making devices, bells and drums to scare away the winter ghosts.

Through the centuries, the season developed into a Christian ritual. The literal translation of the word “Fastnacht” means “night of fasting.” Today, it’s the time of merriment and laughter preceding Lent, the 40-day period before Easter.

The word Karneval also refers to the fasting period. The Latin expression “carne vale” means “farewell, meat” and describes the time of celebrations before Lent, when people have to renounce meat, opulent meals and festivities.

The main days of the carnival season are “Altweiberfasching,” or Old Women’s Fasching, on Feb. 12, Rose Monday on Feb. 16, and Fat Tuesday on Feb. 17.

Rose Monday is known for colorful parades with floats, musicians, dancers and walking groups in creative costumes proceeding through towns.

Ramstein-Miesenbach is known for hosting the biggest parade in the Westpfalz area, and it takes place Feb. 17.

Bruchkatze will sponsor its first funny session at 7:31 p.m. Saturday at the Haus des Bürgers; the second is scheduled for Jan. 31.

The men’s choir VMC Kaiserslautern will sponsor a party, dance and fun session event with the band Favorits at 8:11 p.m. Saturday in Erfenbach’s community hall, Theo-Barth-Halle.