Fasching – November 11, 2026

History of Fasching

Fasching originated in the German cities of Mainz and Speyer during the early 13th Century. By 1234, the festival had already become established in the city of Cologne. In the past, Fasching was often characterized by extravagant and frivolous traditions, including handing the keys of the city to a council of fools. Activities involved noisy parades, plays, masked balls, satirical plays, and excessive or impertinent behavior. As a result of the Protestant Reformation in Europe during the 16th Century, most of these elaborate traditions died down.

However, the fun and entertaining nature of Fasching has been restored in recent times as it is marked by spectacular parades and parties all over the world. The women’s carnival is the first day of the street carnivals, known as ‘Weiberfastnacht’. On this day, women parade the streets in costumes and engage in harmless but mischievous behavior, such as cutting off men’s ties to leave only the knot. This is followed by an apologetic peck on their cheek. Rose Monday is another day of the festival where a four-mile parade is held, with members of local carnival clubs dressing up as witches, clowns, or wizards. People line the streets to watch the procession and take part in the fun.

The height of the Fasching celebrations is called Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. In Germany, the day is celebrated on a small scale but in other parts of the world, the day is spent spectacularly as people attend and take part in parades in cities such as Venice, Rio de Janeiro, and New Orleans. On Ash Wednesday, the festival comes to an end and the 40-day fasting season begins.