Fasching and Karneval refer to a festive season full of colorful parades, costumes, and celebrations. It is similar to Carnival in Brazil or Mardi Gras in New Orleans, marking a time of revelry before the fasting period of Lent begins. While the celebrations vary by region, they generally involve elaborate street parties, masquerades, and playful traditions.
Both terms mean pretty much the same thing in Germany. People in the Rhineland call it Karneval, while in regions like Bavaria, Austria, and Saxony, the word Fasching is more common.
Origins and Meaning of the Terms
The term Karneval first appeared in Germany at the end of the 17th century, specifically in the Rhineland. According to language experts, it comes from the Medieval Latin phrase carne levare, where carne means meat and levare means to remove or take away. So, it could be translated as “meat removal time.” This makes sense, as Ash Wednesday marks the traditional start of Lent.
Fasching, on the other hand, has been around since the 13th century. It was originally called vaschanc or vaschang, derived from the term Fastenschank, which means “the last serving of alcoholic beverages.” This also points to the beginning of the fasting period leading up to Easter.
From Fasting to Festivities: The Evolution of Traditions
In the past, people were expected to give up meat, eggs, dairy products, and alcohol during Lent. Today, many choose to abstain from things like sweets or cigarettes instead.
Fun fact: The tradition of dyeing Easter eggs may actually trace back to Lent. Even though people weren’t eating eggs during this time, hens continued to lay them. To preserve them until Easter, the eggs were hard-boiled. To distinguish them from fresh eggs later, they were dyed in different colors—at least, that’s what some experts believe!
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