Ahoi! Helau! And Alaaf!Today is Schmutziger Donnerstag (Dirty Thursday)
*, beginning of Carnival (Fasching, Faasnet, Fastnacht).
City Halls will get stormed and mayors will symbolically hand over huge keys in surrender. Women will chase men and cut their ties off. Parties galore, and many carnival parades between Sunday and Tuesday.
I'm not a fan of carnival, but years ago, we found a good compromise: we'll see the parade in our neighbouring village on Sunday, and on Tuesday I'll take the kids (read: my youngest, the girls are too old meanwhile) to
Kinderfasching, a big kiddies' party at the gym. Additionally the kids can go to school in costume on Friday, and for the younger pupils, our little elementary school throws a party each year.
My oldest will walk in the parade this year. Her Handball club always does, but until now she refused to be a part of it. Knowing her, it will be the first and the last time, LOL. But maybe I'm wrong, who knows?
Even though I'm not a big
Fastnachter, I look forward to the parade on Sunday, it has become a family tradition. I don't remember the year when it changed from being a dreaded chore to a fun event.
* In other parts of Germany, this day is called Weiberfastnacht (Hags' Carnival)