[Ask Europeans] It's February, what are some traditions from your country for this month? Carnivals, big fires? (lemm.ee)

submitted 9 months ago by Blaze@lemm.ee to c/yurop@lemm.ee

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[-] trollercoaster@feddit.de 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Germany, lots of carnival. In many regions the current carnival traditions date back to the Napoleonic era and were originally invented to mock the French. In some regions, they date back way further and are more about warding off evil spirits and shit.

[-] zockerr@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

were originally invented to mock the French Sounds like a typical European tradition

[-] Blaze@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago

Interesting! Is there an agenda of carnivals available somewhere? Which ones are the biggest ones, or the more unique?

[-] trollercoaster@feddit.de 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

The biggest carnival events take place in the Rhineland, with the Carnival parades in Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Mainz on Shrove Monday being by far the biggest single events. (The carnivals in the Rhineland are of the "mocking the French" variety)

The older flavour of carnival is mostly celebrated in the South with the main events taking place on Fat Thursday

Generally throughout the entire carnival season (regionally known as "The Fifth Season"), there are all sorts of carnival parties (basically dress up in some sort of costume and get drunk) and "carnival sessions" (basically big comedy/entertainment shows) with carnival speeches, often organised by carnival societies.