Fasnacht 2014… Time to Go Costume-Crazy…

i just looked back on the posts i have written for this very famous and fabulous celebration of Spring’s coming. i was very surprised to note that even though i have lived here for more than 10 years and have been blogging for the last 8 years, i have only written 2 little posts about it. (Read here and here) i guess it’s cos we don’t really take part in it.

This year, again, Fasnacht falls during school term so the kids get to wear their costumes to school on March 4th. Every year the date changes because Fasnacht follows the Church calendar even though it is not a Christian celebration. It usually happens during the few days before Ash Wednesday. It’s tradition lay in the idea of scaring away winter and welcoming Spring. It is also a time of feasting before the time of Lent fasting. There are other regions of Switzerland which celebrate it on a different week, such as Basel which just ended their Fasnacht celebrations yesterday. Zürich is another region which doesn’t have this Spring celebration till some time in April – they call it Sechseläuten. They also burn the Böögg which is said to predict how warm and long a summer we would have.

Tobias decided that this year he wanted to go to the big parade. We usually don’t go cos it’s so crowded (mummy doesn’t like) and loud (boy usually doesn’t like). We went and it was actually quite fun.

Here are some pictures (i had to pick just a few from the 161 i took):

Tobias went as Robin Hood this year. He had wanted to go as Legolas but he decided too late for me to make the costume so we bought this one at the last minute. It's cute, isn't it? — Tobias went as Robin Hood this year. He had wanted to go as Legolas but he decided too late for me to make the costume so we bought this one at the last-minute. It’s cute, isn’t it?

Left: On the bus we saw a blue monster, a green monster and a red tomato ;) Right: Kids wanting impatiently for the parade to start. — Left: On the bus we saw a blue monster, a green monster and a red tomato 😉 Right: Kids wanting impatiently for the parade to start.

This poor gal got dunked into confetti - not once but TWICE! — This poor gal got dunked into confetti – not once but TWICE!

Some of our favourites... i so love the giant hats and the pin-cushion kids :) — Some of our favourites… i so love the giant hats and the pin-cushion kids 🙂

No one was left out - babies and wheelchairs - all are welcomed! — No one was left out – babies and wheelchairs – all are welcomed!

More favourites - the Marios were really very good and those kids as planes are so cute. That helicopter actually does go up and down. — More favourites – the Marios were really very good and those kids as planes were so cute. That helicopter actually did go up and down.

SHOT OF THE DAY - we got shot by a confetti cannon, right in the face! — SHOT OF THE DAY – we got shot by a confetti cannon, right in the face!

The last group was the cleaning ladies with real soap suds/bubbles.

However, the cleaning ladies didn't do a very good job - hahhaa... — However, the cleaning ladies didn’t do a very good job – hahhaa…

We met Tobias' friend on the bus home. His family comes from Basel and this is the costume they will wear at that Fasnacht parade. They take the kids out of school every year, just to enjoy the fun in their home city - that's how important this celebration is to them :) — We met Tobias’ friend on the bus home. His family comes from Basel and this is the costume they will wear at that Fasnacht parade. They take the kids out of school every year, just to enjoy the fun in their home city – that’s how important this celebration is to them 🙂

Looking forward to next year’s Fasnacht!

syc

4 Replies to “Fasnacht 2014… Time to Go Costume-Crazy…”

Elisabeth says:

March 13, 2014 at 4:11 pm

Darn it! We didn’t go to the parade this year and Kidlet would have loved it because of the Marios! Plus it was warm – what was I thinking to miss a chance to watch the parade without freezing :-P.

Great pictures! Kidlet would love T’s costume!

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1. yoongz says:
  
  March 13, 2014 at 4:58 pm
  
  Well, i thot it was going to be warm too & had my Spring-ish jacket on but we stood in the shade & when the wind blew it was cold… still it was good to have gone… Kidlet can use T’s costume next year if she likes, or any time from now (let me know) – it is on the small side for T so there is no chance for him to wear it again…
  
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yuxian says:

March 14, 2014 at 12:49 pm

Niceeeeeee :)))

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1. yoongz says:
  
  March 14, 2014 at 3:03 pm
  
  Thank you 🙂
  
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