What we in Germany have carnival or Carnival is just around the corner with our friends in the southern United States the Mardi Gras . The festival with costumes & Co. just in New Orleans It is no coincidence that it is celebrated so enthusiastically, because whether the Dia de los Muertos in Mexico or the world-famous Brazilian Carnival , the further you look south from New Orleans the more the party mood and the extravagance of the costumes.
Carnival & Fasching – Typically German
Despite the exuberant atmosphere, today’s carnival has above all ecclesiastical roots . In the Catholic Church, before the beginning of the pre-Easter Lent with the carnival an event establishes the last winter supplies to destroy them before they reach the Lent With the reformation Among many other traditions, Carnival was also called into question in many parts of Germany and, unlike in predominantly Catholic neighboring countries such as Switzerland or Austria, disappeared Carnival as a tradition for a long time from many parts of Germany. At that time, the carnival was mainly celebrated as a costume and masked ball celebrated in castles and noble houses, of course with appropriate party drinks.
The tradition was only revived in the 19th century after the end of the French occupation in the now Prussian areas of northern Germany. One of the first public street carnivals of the modern era was the still legendary Cologne Carnival , whose famous exclamation "Kölle Allaf" was first called to welcome the Prussian king in Cologne after the end of the occupation.
However, the carnival only gained its current popularity in the 1990s as a real carnival boom moved through Germany and found followers even in areas that were still predominantly Catholic. Today, for example, in Baden Württemberg or Bavaria, a strict distinction is still made between the traditional carnival and the modern carnival different, even though the celebrations with banquets, parades and a penchant for strong thirst quenchers are in many ways similar today.
For all fans of Beer , whether for Carnival or Shrove Tuesday, we currently have great treats on offer that taste great not only at Carnival. The 2 new popcorn varieties "Budweiser" and "Pale Ale" combine sweet and crunchy caramel with the yeasty taste of freshly tapped beer. Ideal for on the go or for a cozy celebration on the couch.
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The name Fasching , which is used mainly in East Germany, Bavaria and Austria, also has its roots in the love of hops and malt. The word is an abbreviation for the “Fastenschank” , the last big beer serving before the start of Lent.
Mardi Gras – Carnival in American Style
The carnival, which is so popular in this country, is in the USA however in vain . The reason for this lies in history. As in Germany during the Reformation, in England during the establishment of the Anglican Church Carnival as a tradition abolished and, unlike its revival as carnival and its maintenance in areas still dominated by Catholics here in Germany, remained largely forgotten. Thus, this tradition did not come with the English settlers to America and even though later immigrants, e.g. from Germany, brought many of their traditions with them, the carnival, like beer festivals & Co., remained a maximally at the local level celebrated tradition.
The fact that the residents of the American South today left out Mardi Gras They owe the fact that they can celebrate to the remnants of their time as French colonies . The French settlers, as pious Catholics also brought their fasting tradition with them to the colonies of the New World. Mardi Gras (literally “Fat Tuesday” was the last day of the traditional week of celebration before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday.
Part of this tradition can still be found today in American Pancake Day . This holiday also has its origins in Lent, because in Louisiana, Alabama & Co., excess fat before fasting in order to use this time extensively pancakes baked.
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Mardi Gras is today primarily a street festival with many processions, street stalls and parades. costumes are not uncommon today due to the mixture with the modern global carnival culture, but are not traditionally part of this holiday. Instead, this tradition remains in the USA mainly Halloween The origin is probably the same pagan tradition with which the pre-Christian tribes tried to hide themselves through scary masks to protect against ghosts and with drums and noise drive away the winter If you have had enough of winter and are longing for spring, then just grab one of the great scented candles from the Kringle Candle Halloween Limited Edition and at least drive the winter out of your home.
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Dia de los Muertos
Unlike the typical carnival celebrations here or in the rest of South America, Mexico a very unique celebration and costume tradition with surprisingly many Parallels to our carnival . Instead of celebrating before Lent, Mexicans celebrate Dia de los Muertos (in German the “Day of the Dead”) traditionally in November , a cultural influence that probably contributed to Halloween being celebrated in the United States today in the fall, rather than like Carnival and its pagan predecessors at the end of winter time .
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Today, especially colorful and from costumes and treats The holiday has similar mythological roots as the supposed predecessors of modern Halloween, e.g. Celtic Samhain . According to tradition, on these days the souls of the dead back to the world of the living. While this was a reason for Europeans to be afraid and to protect themselves from evil spirits with scary masks, the ancients saw Aztecs this rather as an occasion to celebrate with their ancestors and to treat them with honor and respect. Spanish missionaries tried in vain to abolish these death cults and so the festival, similar to during Roman times with the Christmas had been done, with a Christian holiday (in this case All Saints' Day ) in the hope that the festival would sooner or later lose its original meaning.
Instead merged Over the centuries, both festivals have become a long week of celebration and many of the originally Mexican customs have survived (if of course adapted to the times) to this day. These include the omnipresent face painting in the form of skulls, reminiscent of the real skulls that the Aztecs erected to give the returning souls of their ancestors (and also their enemies) a temporary home to offer.
Brazilian Carnival
The epicenters of the carnival tradition in the new world Today, however, they are mainly located far south of the USA, which is no surprise considering that many of the countries Central and South America during the colonial period Spanish and Portuguese , and thus Catholic influence.
The most famous and largest carnival takes place every year in Rio de Janeiro The custom was originally started by the Portuguese colonial rulers introduced, which celebrated the festival with great dance and costume parties and street parades celebrated. The Samba , which is now an integral part of the Brazilian carnival, was originally brought by the African prisoners which had been taken to the New World by the Portuguese. Today, the Brazilian carnival is dominated by samba and the world-famous parade is held at the same time a competition the (over 200) local samba schools , which, in addition to their dance skills, with colorful costumes compete for the favor of the audience and judges.
Far from the dance processions, the carnival is similar to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans & Co. mainly as big street festival with music, food and drinks, which also extends to the local beaches and bars.
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As you can see, there are many unusual paths To celebrate Carnival. In the end, it is simply about good mood , good Food and Drink and a good time with friends and acquaintances.
