Swabian-Alemannic carnival

Swabian-Alemannic carnival

In southwest Germany and Switzerland a special form of carnival has developed. As an own form it exists only since the first quarter of the 20th century. After the region joined the newly developing Rhenish carnival in the nineteenth century, it returned to the traditions of medieval and early modern carnival about 100 years ago. This form of carnival has been experiencing a boom since the 1990s. The traditional music bands (Guggemusik) of the Swabian-Alemannic carnival are now also very popular in the Rhenish carnival. 

Typical is the masking of the participants with wooden masks, which are called "larvae". The costumers do not change their costumes ("Häs") from year to year, but always keep them. Sometimes they are even passed on to the next generation. Some of these masks are 250 years old.

A Swabian water spirit celebrates the roses Monday with a parade. Picture: Efraimstochter https://pixabay.com/de/photos/gaugama-wassergeist-sage-blau-1187196/, Pixabay licence

Beside the full body disguises and masks the figure of the "fool" stands in the center. The official start is the 6th of January. In Switzerland the carnival ends even after Ash Wednesday with the Morgenstraich at 4:00 o'clock on Monday after carnival. Since 2014, this form of carnival has been part of Germany's official immaterial cultural heritage.