Traditions: Carnival in Germany
Why do we celebrate carnival?
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It's a very old tradition
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you wear masks to disperse the winter
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bad ghosts who threaten the growth of plants and the crop should be chased off
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and good ghosts bringing spring should be woken up
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most people don't believe in it anymore but they still celebrate it
History
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the origin of carnival is a Christian festival
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it describes the Shrovetide, the night before the beginning of the Lenten-season
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for devout christians, Carnival is still a symbol for the beginning of the fast before Easter
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since the 13th century carnival ranges from women's almost-night to Shrove Tuesday
Carnival nowadays
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there are processions in nearly every city
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the people party rowdily
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there are ceremonial sessions and clubs especially for carnival
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kids can dance during these sessions and adutls hold carnival speeches
Canstatter Wasen
The location
Basic information
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it takes place every year in the time from the end of September to the middle of October -> 17 days every year
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was founded 1818
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this year is the 200 year anniversary
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about 4 million people visit the festival every year
Did you know?
- the "Cannstatter Wasen" was founded by King Wilhelm I. and his wife Katharina!
sources:
picture 1: https://pixabay.com/de/bunt-freundlich-farbig-farbenfroh-1189682/
picture 2: https://pixabay.com/de/basler-fasnacht-fasching-fastnacht-1980144/
picture 3: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cannstatter_Wasen_bei_Nacht_2.JPG
picture 4: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cannstatter_Wasen_2016_Fruchtsäule_1751.jpg
article by Elena Cali and Greta Klos