Just a bit behind: Fasching February

I'm just a bit behind with posting pictures and stories from this year's Fasching. I've been seriously derelict in that area, especially considering that that Fasching, also known as Karneval and other names, is held during February. It's a celebratory season where normally placid Germans act completely NUTS and wear freaky costumes, paint bystanders' noses red, throw confetti, and use the newscaster's bottom to pop balloons (or at least that's what they did on a news segment).

Fasching season can begin on 11/11 at 11:11 and goes until Fat Wednesday in February. It's a pre-Lenten season of parties, political parodies, witches (I kind of think they combined a lot of traditions here!), parades, and more.

Kaiserslautern, where I live, got into the Fasching fun too. There was a Fasching market at Stiftsplatz, a square in the middle of downtown. Below are some pictures from the market. There was also a parade on Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday, in Kaiserslautern. I was a sad panda because I had to work, but many for many lucky Germans in the area, it was either a half or a full day off.

There is more to say about Fasching, but this is it for now.

Let's accessorize with some Lebkuchenherzen!

Even the pastas are dressed up for Fasching! It's a bit creepy that you can see these dolls' pasta brains, I think.