It's Fasching's Time!!

Fasching is the bavarian name for the let-loose, over-indulgent, any-excuse-to-go-crazy, all-bets-are-off holiday celebrated by almost every traditionally Catholic country and region for centuries. Like the rituals and traditions surrounding the festival, the name itself varies from country to country. You probably know it better as Mardi Gras or Carnevale. Well, as I said before, here in Germany it is known as Fasching, but also Karneval to a lesser extent. And unlike in America, Fasching is not merely a one-day event, rather it is a celebration-period that spans the weeks leading up to "Fat Tuesday", that infamous day when all the truely devout Catholics commence the (now not so severe) fasting period of Lent. And as a ingenious way to prepare for and kick-off this, most challenging and austere of periods, the bavarians concocted a true culinary treasure. Known as "krapfen" here in Bavaria, but also as "berliner" and other names in various parts of Germany, these ancestors or perhaps cousins of the jelly-donut were originally designed to be the most fattening and over-indulgent guilty pleasure possible. And as such they are amazingly GOOD!! or lecker should I say??! But besides the ubiquity of krapfen around town, other signs that it is indeed Fasching, would be some very oddly dressed people about town -including my two little charges Martin and Irene, who were an elephnat and a chinese princess respectively. I mean sure if we were in Vegas no one would bat an eye, but here in germany, that degree of bizarre is reserved for one time of year only....FASCHING! Basically, what Halloween is to us, Fasching/Carneval/Carneval is to Germany, as well as Italy and Brazil and perhaps Spain, though honestly I am not sure. And basically it is a good time had by all.

During this time, Munich is overrun by Fasching balls (as in dances that is), concerts and other such events. And over this last weekend, a stage was constructed in Marienplatz right in front of the Rathaus (City Hall) and live music is played there from the afternoon until late at night. To accompany this stage, a gaggle of concession stands were set up as well selling the usual "necessities", including (of course) bottles of beer to be enjoyed along with the concert. You hear that America??!! A "civilized" country, not to mention one of the saftest and most livable cities in the world, yet they somehow are legally allowed to drink a beer in public, outside even. Craziness I know :-) (Sorry couldn't pass up the opportunity to rant) Anyways, in conclusion, this is quite an exciting time to be in Munich. Tomorrow is the big day, the last day before Lent, the last time to go all out before weeks and weeks and weeks of hardship and sacrifice. Except for the fact that now-a-days very few people are even anywhere near that observant. But just forget that fact and revel in the splendor of excess! So I bid you all a very very HAPPY FASCHING!! tscheussiii