Lexi Webster
Fasching, also known as Carnival, is a festival celebrated in Austria before the Catholic season of Lent. The festival is marked by parades, parties, and costumes, with each Austrian state having its own unique traditions. The festival is tied to the Christian calendar and has no fixed dates, usually taking place between January and March, ending on Ash Wednesday. The origins of Fasching are unclear, but it is mentioned in early 13th-century literature and is believed to have originated in cities like Mainz and Speyer. The festival is a time for merrymaking, subverting daily rules and order, and partaking in sweets, alcohol, and celebrations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Fasching, Faschingskrapfen, Karneval, Fastnacht |
| Region | German-speaking countries, including Austria |
| Occasion | Time before the Christian season of Lent |
| Date | Saturday before Shrove Tuesday to Ash Wednesday; starts on November 11 at 11:11 AM |
| Duration | No fixed days; depends on when Easter falls |
| Traditions | Costumes, parades, parties, food, drinking schnapps |
| Food | Krapfen (doughnuts), Faschingskrapfen (Viennese doughnuts with apricot jam) |
| Activities | Comedy shows, satirical plays, speeches, music, dance |
| Other names for the festival season | Fasching, Karneval, Fastnacht, Fasnacht, Fasnet, Fasenacht |
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What You'll Learn
Fasching is Austria's version of Carnival
Fasching, also known as Carnival, is a festival celebrated in Austria before the Christian season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. The festival is a preparation for Easter Sunday and is tied to Catholicism. The name Fasching is derived from the word "fasting", referring to the 40-day Lent fast before Easter.
Fasching is a time for Austrians to let loose and indulge in sweets, alcohol, and parties. It is a chance to celebrate daily life and express oneself through creative costumes, parades, and foolish" events. The festival is marked by noisy costumed parades, masked balls, satirical plays, speeches, and excessive behaviour. The traditions and customs of Fasching differ across Austrian states, with each region having its own unique celebrations.
The festival starts on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, known as Schmutziger Donnerstag, and ends at midnight on Shrove Tuesday, which is the most active day of the Fasching season. The celebrations typically last from the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday to Ash Wednesday, with the dates varying according to when Easter falls. The main event is the street carnival, with parades, parties, and special food.
The traditional food associated with Fasching is the ""Viennese Faschingskrapfen", a doughnut filled with apricot jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Austrians consume approximately 100 million carnival doughnuts during the season. Other traditions include the Ebensee Carnival Parade in Upper Austria, where participants wear older women's clothes, rag hats, and wooden masks. The Villacher Fasching in Carinthia is also well-known, with parties that are broadcast on Austrian television.
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Fasching is a time of festivity and silly entertainment
Fasching, also known as Carnival, is a time of festivity and silly entertainment. It is a chance for people to ""let loose"" and be a little crazy before the Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The festival originates from the word "fasting", marking the week leading up to the 40-day Lent fast before Easter. It is a time for merrymaking, with sweets, alcohol, and parties.
The festival is celebrated with events, parades, and special food. The main event is the street carnival, with parades, colourful costumes, and traditional food. Fasching is also a time for "foolish" events such as comedy shows and satirical performances. The "fool" is celebrated during Fasching, and in the Middle Ages, it was a time for commoners to express themselves and even talk back to their rulers. Each city has its own ""fool's call,"", a phrase that is said during Fasching. For example, in Villach, the fool's call is "Lei Lei", while in Klagenfurt, it is "Bla Bla".
The carnival period in Austria has no fixed days as it is determined by when Easter falls. However, the celebrations typically happen from the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday to Ash Wednesday. The dates may vary, but the traditions remain the same, with many focused on ""scaring away" winter and welcoming spring. The most active day of the Fasching season is Faschingsdienstag (Shrove Tuesday), which is also when the carnival season officially ends at midnight.
The carnival season in Vienna is particularly notable, with its delicious "Viennese Faschingskrapfen", a type of doughnut filled with apricot jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. There are also unique traditions in different regions of Austria, such as the "Ausseer Fasching" in the "Salzkammergut", where "Trommelweiber" run through small villages, drumming the melody of the "Ausseer Faschingsmarsch".
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Austrians eat carnival doughnuts during Fasching
Fasching, or carnival, is a festive period celebrated worldwide, with some of the most famous parties taking place in Rio, Cologne, and Venice. Austria, too, has its share of traditional and old celebrations and symbols. The carnival period in Austria has no fixed days as it is determined by when Easter falls. In Austria, the celebrations typically happen from the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday to Ash Wednesday. The dates may vary, but the traditions tend to stay the same, with many focused on "scaring away" winter and welcoming spring.
Austrians eat at least 100 million carnival doughnuts every year. The carnival doughnut, or "Faschingskrapfen", is a type of doughnut filled with apricot jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. The name "Faschingskrapfen" comes from Cäcilie (or Cäcillia) Krapf, a Viennese cook at the royal court who accidentally invented the doughnut when the dough for bread rolls fell into hot lard. The tradition of the carnival doughnut goes back to the Middle Ages when particularly high-fat doughnuts were eaten in preparation for the upcoming Lent. Due to their high fat content, these doughnuts were more nutritious than bread.
The carnival season in Vienna is linked to many traditions, including eating "Krapfen". The most popular delicacy is the "Viennese Faschingskrapfen". There are no specific rules on how to eat a Faschingskrapfen, but you should beware of inhaling too deeply while eating it, otherwise your face will be covered in icing sugar.
In addition to eating doughnuts, Austrians also celebrate Fasching with parades, costumes, and other special foods. In Vienna, couples line up at the annual Opera Ball, and the rural customs of the western villages are replaced by beauty and entertainment. Upper Austria is known for the Ebensee Carnival Parade, which takes place on the Monday before Shrove Tuesday, and Carinthia is home to the Villacher Fasching, with parties that are broadcast on Austrian TV.
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Fasching is a time to “let loose” and be creative with costumes
Fasching, also known as Carnival, is a time for Austrians to let loose and embrace their creativity with costumes, parades, and parties. The tradition of wearing costumes during Fasching dates back to ancient times when people dressed festively to honour the gods and express their gratitude for their blessings. Today, Fasching is a time for Austrians to celebrate and let their creativity shine through their costume choices.
The carnival season in Austria is filled with colourful and cheerful celebrations. People of all ages participate in parades, donning creative and whimsical costumes, with the most active day being Faschingsdienstag (Shrove Tuesday). This is the day when people indulge in delicious treats like the "Viennese Faschingskrapfen", a doughnut filled with apricot jam and covered in powdered sugar. The tradition of celebrating with sweets and delicacies is a significant part of Fasching, with Austrians consuming approximately 100 million carnival doughnuts each year.
The carnival celebrations in Austria are not limited to just costumes and treats. The historic city centres come alive with tents, music stages, dance floors, and food and drink stands. People of all ages participate in the festivities, enjoying the silly floats and performances during the parades. The celebrations are a chance for people to live it up and embrace the fun and silly atmosphere of Fasching.
The origins of Fasching can be traced back to the 13th century, mentioned in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival. It is a festival that originated in cities like Mainz and Speyer and was established in Cologne by 1234. Fasching has evolved over the centuries, but it still retains its essence as a time for people to express themselves and temporarily break free from the rules and order of daily life.
Each Austrian state and region has its own unique traditions and variations of Fasching celebrations. For example, in Tyrol, people throw glowing logs from a hill on Carnival Sunday, while in Styria, there is an annual carnival race where participants wear traditional costumes and run to the highest spot in town. The "Ausseer Fasching" in the Salzkammergut region is renowned for its special traditions, including the "Trommelweiber," where women run through small villages, drumming the melody of the "Ausseer Faschingsmarsch."
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Fasching is tied to Catholicism
Fasching, or Carnival, is a festive period celebrated worldwide, with some of the most traditional or famous parties taking place in Rio, Cologne, or Venice. However, Austria has its own unique traditions and symbols during this time. The festival is tied to Catholicism, marking the week leading up to the 40-day Lent fast before Easter. The celebrations are tied to important religious days, with the big bashes happening the week before Ash Wednesday, which is known as "the fifth season".
The origins of Fasching can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was a time for common people to express themselves and even talk back to their rulers. To represent this, commoners would create a mock government of 11 people, as the number 11 was believed to be the "Narrenzahl" or fool's number. During Fasching, these mock governments would put on satirical performances, allowing commoners to freely express their opinions about their rulers.
Today, Fasching is a time of festivity and indulgence for Catholics before the beginning of the Lent fast. It is common to see delicious doughnuts, known as "Krapfen", and other sweets in shops during this time. These doughnuts are traditionally filled with apricot jam and are a symbol of carnival in Austria. In addition to rich and fried foods, it is also common for people to consume alcoholic beverages, with drinking schnapps and beer being a favourite tradition.
The festival is celebrated with parades, lively dance parties, and "foolish" events such as comedy shows. People dress up in creative costumes and intricate masks, informed by local traditions. Each Austrian state has its own traditions, with some unique practices including throwing glowing logs from a hill on Carnival Sunday in Tyrol, and the annual carnival race in Styria, where participants wear traditional costumes and run up to the highest spot in town.
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Frequently asked questions
Fasching is Austria's version of the Carnival season, which is tied to Catholicism. It is a time to have fun before Lent begins, with sweets, alcohol, and
Fasching begins on the 11th day of November at exactly 11 minutes after 11 am. The Carnival season comes to an end at the stroke of midnight on Shrove Tuesday. The dates of the celebration change each year depending on when Easter falls.
During Fasching, cities organize parades, dance parties, and foolish" events such as comedy shows. People dress up in creative and colourful costumes and eat traditional foods like Krapfen, a type of doughnut filled with apricot jam.
