Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria

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Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria is a big festival with costumes, music and parades, but the traditions vary by region. The festivities before Lent go by different names: Fasching in eastern and southern Germany and Austria; Fasnacht or Fasnet in other parts of Germany and in Switzerland; and Fasnacht in many Swiss areas. In Low German-speaking regions it is called Fastelavend or Fastelabend.

There are two main styles. The Rhenish Carnival in western Germany (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz and nearby areas) is known for large street parades and costume balls. The Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht (also called Fasnacht in parts of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Alsace, Swiss areas and Vorarlberg) tends to be more traditional and starts earlier, with masks and local customs.

The carnival season is often called the Fifth Season. It runs from November 11 at 11:11 a.m. until Ash Wednesday of the next year. The biggest celebrations peak around Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). Some regions start in January, but the main parades and parties happen in the week before Lent, sometimes on Shrove Tuesday too.

In the Rhineland, clubs organize large street parades and show events called Sitzungen, where members perform dances, comedy and songs in costumes. A famous parade tune is the Narrhallamarsch. The organizing body in each town is often called the Elferrat, the Council of Eleven. In many places, the crowd’s carnival mood is strongest on Rosenmontag, when streets may be filled with thousands of revelers.

There are also special traditions. Weiberfastnacht (Weiberfastnacht or Altweiber) is on the Thursday before Lent, marking a strong role for women in the celebrations, including actions like storming city halls. Different regions use different carnival cries, such as Alaaf in parts of the Rhineland (Cologne, Bonn, Aachen) and Helau in others (Düsseldorf, Mainz).

In Basel and some Swiss regions, Fasnacht begins on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, with its own distinctive style and music.