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Fasching, Germany’s fifth season, or crazy season, is reaching its peak. Parties, dances and other Fasching activities will continue until Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13.
One of the most important Fasching days will be observed Thursday. It’s “Altweiberfasching,” which directly translated means “old women’s Fasching,” is a day specifically reserved for women during the fifth season. On this day, women are in power!
On Altweiberfasching in Ramstein-Miesenbach, women in disguise storm the Rathaus (town hall) at 11:11 a.m. and capture the men. They then take them outdoors and tie them to the “Narrenbrunnen,” or fool’s fountain. Then, they cut off the men’s ties. For a fee of €1.11 or more, captives will be set free again.
The event always is observed the Thursday before Rose Monday. Traditionally, females dress as old women or witches. They gather, walk down the streets, sing songs and, in some towns, they storm the town halls. They constantly look for victims — men wearing ties. As soon as they see a man with a tie – on the street, in a store, in an office — they get out a pair of scissors and “attack” the man by cutting off his tie.
Depending on the area in which the tie cutting is performed, the woman might give the man a choice: either buy her a drink or lose the tie, or she cuts the tie and kisses the man.
The ties will be kept as trophies. Kill-joys won’t wear a tie that day or choose to wear an old one they don’t need any longer.
Women are allowed to act crazy that day and have fun without their “better halves.”
The tradition of women participating in Fasching goes back to the 15th century. During sermons, priests complained about the exchange of clothes between women and men. In 1558, the city council of Überlingen at Lake Constance was forced to prohibit women’s Fasching celebrations in female taverns and dormitories because of women’s indecent behavior. But the women referred to their female rights, such as drinking and dancing during specific Fasching days.
Altweiberfasching also marks the status of women in the 15th and 16th centuries. Wives had well-defined rights, since they were the budget keepers. During the crazy season they sat in judgment of other women who didn’t clean the house or didn’t take care of the children. Later, in several towns in Southern Germany, it became customary to sit in judgment of men. Women usually met in the conference rooms of town halls. That’s why nowadays women still “storm” the town halls on Altweiberfasching to take control and become fully liberated as on no other day.
Several clubs and associations in the KMC will host special Altweiberfasching events. The biggest one in the KMC takes place under the motto “Flower Power” at 8 p.m. Thursday in Niederkirchen’s community hall, Westpfalzhalle. Tickets cost €12 at the door. For details, visit www.sgnm.de.
The Kaiserslautern carnival association KVK will start its party at 7 p.m. Thursday at their club house, An der Kalause 11, 67659 Kaiserslautern (on Gartenschau grounds, up the road from Papasote restaurant).
The Erfenbach sports club and the Hobby Singers will sponsor a dance with the band Favorits starting at 8 p.m. in Erfenbach’s community hall, Kreuzsteinhalle.
The Haus des Bürgers in Ramstein-Miesenbach will present the band Die Dicken Kinder and a disc jockey from Radio Antenne Kaiserslautern, starting at 8 p.m.
