Women come into power Thursday

Fasching, Germany’s fifth season or crazy season, is reaching its peak. Parties, dances and other Fasching activities will continue until Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10.

One of the most important Fasching days will be observed Thursday. It’s “Altweiberfasching,” which literally translates to “old women’s Fasching.” This day is specifically reserved for females during the fifth season. Women come into power on this day.

Traditionally on Altweiber-fasching in Ramstein-Miesenbach, women in disguise storm the “Rathaus,” or “town hall,” at 11:11 a.m. and capture men working there. They take them outdoors and tie them to the “Narrenbrunnen,” or fool’s fountain, and then they cut 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 get together, 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, which means they cut his tie.

Depending on the area in which the tie cutting is performed, the woman might ask the man to either buy her a drink or lose the tie, or she cuts the tie and kisses the man.

The ties are 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 were complaining about the exchange of clothes between women and men. In 1558, the city council of Ueberlingen 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 century. 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 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, which is why 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 “Wild Wild Niederkirchen — Foolish acting in the Wild West” Thursday in Niederkirchen’s community hall, Westpfalzhalle. The band magic will perform and DJ Franz will help to entertain the audience. A cocktail and secco bar will be found in the tent. Doors open at 7 p.m. The party will end at 5 a.m. Feb. 5. Tickets cost €15 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 located at An der Kalause 11, 67659 Kaiserslautern, which is on Gartenschau grounds up the road from Papasote restaurant.

Also on Thursday, Haus des Buergers in Ramstein-Miesenbach will present the band Habachtaler and DJ Andy starting 8 p.m. Tickets cost €10.