Fasching is Munich's version of Carnival. Americans call it "Mardi Gras" whilst the British have "Shrove Tuesday" (pancake day). The climax to the Fasching celebrations takes place on Tuesday 8th Febuary 2005. Most people will get the afternoon off work so that they can go down to the Viktualienmarkt wearing a silly costume. In the weeks leading up to 8th Febuary there are also lots of Gala Balls and other Fasching related events taking place.
What is Fasching?
Fasching is carnival season. Originally it was a Pagan festival which came out of ancient Rome or Greece. In recent centuries, however, it has become more associated with the Christian Church. Officially the season starts on 11th November at 11:11am, although I've no idea why. It continues pretty low key for about 3 months. Things really begin to happen in February or March - 7 weeks before Easter. This is the week when people are allowed to "flip out" and behave recklessly before the beginning of Lent, which is a much more serious time.
The Thursday before Ash Wednesday (03.Feb.2005) is known as "Weiberfastnacht", or "Women's carnival night". On this day tradition dictates that women are allowed to cut off the tie of any man within reach. So guys, don't wear your favourite tie to work that day! The women are also allowed to kiss any man they like. The following Monday is known as Rosenmontag (Rose Monday). On Rosenmontag there are various street processions involving lots of costumes and carnival floats. Faschingsdienstag (Carnival Tuesday) is the last day of Fasching and when most of the festivities happen. Faschingsdienstag is not an official holiday but workers usually get the afternoon off.
Fasching around the world
Fasching is celebrated mainly in the Catholic parts of Germany. Different areas give it different names, for example Karneval, Fastnacht, Fasnet, or Fosnat. Fasching is only the name used in and around Munich.
Some of the biggest celebrations in Germany take place in Köln (see: karneval.de). This city certainly has the longest tradition with street parties dating back to the 14th century. Many Bavarians try to claim that the biggest celebrations are now in Munich, but this is debatable.
Of course all the parties throughout Germany are dwarfed in comparison to the carnivals held at the same time in Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. In New Orleans the festival is called Mardi Gras which is French for "fat Tuesday".
Fasching celebrations in Munich
As mentioned, the climax of Fasching 2005 in Munich is Tuesday 8th February. Between 2pm and 5pm the Viktualienmarkt pedestrian area is turned into a party zone. A local radio station provides a crane which hangs huge speakers in mid-air and churns out cheesy pop hits. It's usually carnage and the whole area from Marienplatz to Viktualienmarkt is completely blocked with the throng of people. If you don't fancy going down there yourself you can always spy on the festivities via the Viktualienmarkt Webcam.
In the evening there are a number of gala balls. The big one is held in the Bayerischer Hof hotel but generally any bar or nightclub in Munich will be having some kind of Fasching special that night.
What's with all the Donuts?
The ubiquitous food of Carnival season is donuts (in German: "Krapfen"). You can expect to see donuts piled high in the bakers and be offered them every day throughout the next month by colleagues and friends. The donuts come in all varieties containing sweets such as vanilla, marmelade, or chocolate. If you're on the Atkin's diet, bad luck!
So what's the reason for the donuts anyway? Well, in pre-Christian Europe it was customary to choose a man to be the "sacred king" of the tribe for a year. When his year in office was up he would be sacrificed and his blood returned to the soil to ensure a successful harvest. The method of choosing the sacred king was the King's Cake. A coin or bean would be placed in the cake before baking and whoever got the slice with the coin was the chosen one. In recent times the King's Cake idea has evolved into the donuts that we're familiar with today.
Faschings Balls 2005
A Faschings Ball which is largely for English speakers takes place on Saturday 5th Febuary 2005. This is the largest expat Faschings Ball in Munich. It takes place every year and at only 35 Euros per ticket is a fraction of the cost of similar events taking place around Munich. Price includes: Full Buffet Meal prepared by the Hilton's own 5 stars chefs, Live 6 piece Latin Jazz Band 'Mantica', Faschings Floor Show and All night Disco.
For a long list of the other events and balls see the Faschingkalendar from muenchen.de.
More chat about Munich Fasching
See the TT chat forum: Fasching 2005 in Munich
Warning: Watch out for the 'joke' donuts with mustard in them!
I've seen a krapfen with "SEX" written in icing on the top. Now that may be taking the pleasures of carnival to the limit. You can buy it at the bakery next to In Lingua at Sendlinger Tor (Hagl???). They are also selling a 6 pack of krapfen for some 7+ euros, and they have a wide selection.
Posted by: Bee at January 27, 2004 09:21 AMFasching in Munich kind of sucks. They only really celebrate one day - rather than a whole week or more.
People have the license to get crazy and every serious German can have fun. German companies give the day or at least half the day off. In Munich it is mostly the biggest drinking competition on Marienplatz in the afternoon till late at night and Munich radio stations will have stages built up and will provide the Faschingsmusic. Probably u will hear one or the other Schlager like Nena.
The more traditional part is in the morning at Viktualienmarkt called "Marktweibertanz" (= market women's dance)
Posted by: bubblylady at February 14, 2004 08:42 AMYou'll see the better costumes towards the Reichenbach-end of the Viktualienmarkt as it tends to be wall to wall transvestites struggling with their heels on the cobbled streets...Glockenbach tends to do Fasching more than the rest of Munich.
I've got tickets for the football though and am going to see The Darkness on Sunday so won't be able to go to Cologne ("Kolle Alaaf!") or Mainz this year (which are the 2 main Fasching places to tell the truth). Even Frankfurt (who say "Frankfurt Helau!") has more Fasching than Munich does and the medieval parade in Rottweil near Stuttgart is really rather beautiful. But apart from loads of Doughnuts (Faschingskrapfen) and the dancing stall ladies on the Viktmkt, Fasching isn't really a Munich event.
Just been to Munich with my girlfriend and we didn't know that Fasching was happening. We were certainly in for a big surprise when we got there, seeing several 80 year-old men dressed as women and/or 16th century gentry. However, the best dressed person was some man made up like a cow, complete with udders and cow-bell, obviously conceling some beer.
Posted by: Rory at February 26, 2004 07:24 PMI lived in Cologne for 5 years -- I hated Carneval at first -- thought to myself, "why are Germans so fun at the press of a button when they're serious the rest of the year?"
But after a few years of singing the songs, and drinking the beer, I got hooked.
I am going up to Cologne on Thursday the 3rd.
Thursday (Weiber Fastnacht) is probably the best party day -- and Cologne the best party town. Traditionally, Girls and guys go their seperate ways and party seperately -- couples that is.
It's the "anything goes" weekend in Cologne. If you're not wearing a costume, don't even bother showin up. Get in your bar at 2 or 3pm and don't switch either. you won't get into a new one.
Second best day is Saturday (Friday is sort of milk the hang-over day).
If you're into grabbing chocolate, the Rosenmontags-umzug is not to be missed. Diaper wearing guys in 18th century French outfits throw gads of candy/Chocolate/sausage/etc. from the parade.
(Diapers because they're drinkin a lot and can't use the facilities during the 3-4 hour parade...)
Anyone lookin to Party the right way for Carnival, but can't get up to Cologne, try the www.Kmkv.de (Köln Münchener Karnevals Verein) they have great parties at decent prices. I think www.koelnerabend.de is also a part of the shin-dig.
Bussje,
Patrick
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm karnival is good., pirartes!!!!
Posted by: cockman at February 2, 2005 11:11 AMToday it all goes loose! Meet at Reichenbachplatz at 1pm. See you there!
More details here: Fasching 2005 on Viktualienmarkt
Posted by: Fool at February 7, 2005 06:56 PMI have never been there, but it sounds weird. It sounds like kind of creepy in a way that people run around with PIG BALDDERS hitting other people. I would actually like to go...but I don't think that i would enjoy getting hit. lol
Posted by: Amy Lynn at February 16, 2005 05:08 PMThe pig bladder thing doesn't happen in Munich. However, if you go somewhere it does happen then I reckon you'll enjoy it. Not the getting hit of course but the whole atmosphere. It's fun, accept it, not creepy at all. Try it, then judge. Bounce a Bladder, it's a life changing experience. Ok, maybe not, but it's a laugh'n'a'half!
Posted by: Keydeck at February 16, 2005 11:44 PM
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