fasching

These last few weeks I have been able to observe the traditional celebrations surrounding the season of Fasching. It officially begins on November 11, but the majority of the festivities take place in the last few weeks preceding Ash Wednesday. Little Kandern celebrates in a big way! From costumes and confetti to banners and parades, there’s no doubt that this is a time of celebration for the locals. At first glance, it seems like a joyous celebration.

the "Kandern" float flanked by bretzel boys

tree people

sitting in the open window was asking for it...

a mere fraction of the confetti that was tossed into my house!

Local Germans will say this is a time of “scaring away” winter and ushering in the spring weather. For many though, this also involves donning macabre masks, adorning their ankles with bells, and flinging flaming wooden blocks off a hillside, all in an attempt to ward off evil spirits. The otherwise straight-laced, conservative locals let loose in the days leading up to Lent. They wear masks to be anonymous in their drunkenness and literally let it all hang out by stringing up their unmentionables in the town square.

seriously??

With my house on the parade route, I had a front-row seat to the huge Fasching parade this past Sunday. I watched from behind my closed window in response to warnings that the parade route is not a very safe place for women to be. A few times I felt chills as dark creatures with grotesque features danced past my window carrying torches (and beer bottles).

note the head on a stick

creepy old woman

bring out your dead...

creeper

a sausage fingered man if I ever saw one!

this woman stood in from of my house and was "bombed" several times!

Please remember us in your prayers during these spiritually dark months. Now that Lent has begun things will calm down but there is still a spirit of oppression here that looms just below the surface and is also affecting many high school students at BFA.