fasching carnival

8/14/2019 Fasching Carnival

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Because the holidays of elders had charmBecause the holidays of elders had charm

and core, people today have begun to wipeand core, people today have begun to wipe

them from dust to bring to light whatthem from dust to bring to light what

appears to have lost, the tradition.appears to have lost, the tradition.



Everywhere in the Saxon villages of Brasov, "Fasching"Everywhere in the Saxon villages of Brasov, "Fasching"

days means opportunities for fun and good mood. The balldays means opportunities for fun and good mood. The ball

is held in the center of village/town, each village had itsis held in the center of village/town, each village had itsbrass band, came the girls also ( because at the caravanbrass band, came the girls also ( because at the caravan

did not participate than boys), are singing and dancing tilldid not participate than boys), are singing and dancing till

the morning. This Saxon tradition was resumed for somethe morning. This Saxon tradition was resumed for some

time even if it changed. It hadn't to remain as such whentime even if it changed. It hadn't to remain as such when

villages were inhabited by Saxons. The Saxons has leftvillages were inhabited by Saxons. The Saxons has leftfrom Romania. I find it wonderful that the Romanians notfrom Romania. I find it wonderful that the Romanians not

forget them and celebrate their holidays.forget them and celebrate their holidays.



Pancakancak

ess

Carnival PartyCarnival Party



An elder told me these days: "What does it mean" Fasching " did by theAn elder told me these days: "What does it mean" Fasching " did by theRomanians, than to resume an old losted tradition, our nostalgia byRomanians, than to resume an old losted tradition, our nostalgia byGermans, hoping that we'll see them home even to visit? I was very sadGermans, hoping that we'll see them home even to visit? I was very sadwhen they started to leave. On this street were only a few families of when they started to leave. On this street were only a few families of Romanians, the rest only Germans. Their costumes prevailed in theRomanians, the rest only Germans. Their costumes prevailed in thevillage, and their folk music is more familiar to me than ours, because wevillage, and their folk music is more familiar to me than ours, because wegrew with it. They had great influence. The Saxons were verygrew with it. They had great influence. The Saxons were veryhardworking and tidy, but they like to spend, and I do not know what theyhardworking and tidy, but they like to spend, and I do not know what theydo, but found their time after work, to have fun. And "Fasching" was ando, but found their time after work, to have fun. And "Fasching" was anoccasion for great celebration. So are you in February, symbolizing theoccasion for great celebration. So are you in February, symbolizing thetransition to spring and cleansing of evil spirits, and do not know how totransition to spring and cleansing of evil spirits, and do not know how todo that every time the weather was now sunny and beautiful. Startingdo that every time the weather was now sunny and beautiful. Startingwith pancakes or donuts caravan , a stove was put in the wagon andwith pancakes or donuts caravan , a stove was put in the wagon and

comes a lot of smoke! Boys-but only they , have rotate the pancakes ...comes a lot of smoke! Boys-but only they , have rotate the pancakes ...In the past, at evening at their masked ball, not much goes the youngIn the past, at evening at their masked ball, not much goes the youngRomanians, they had their carnival, in a week or two after the Fasching,Romanians, they had their carnival, in a week or two after the Fasching,depending on entry in the Post. We hope that year after year that fest todepending on entry in the Post. We hope that year after year that fest tobecome one of the major festival which to bring home even a trip, thebecome one of the major festival which to bring home even a trip, theSaxons which left a long time away from here .”Saxons which left a long time away from here .”



"Fasching is a holiday that involves a series of previous"Fasching is a holiday that involves a series of previouspreparation. The night before the carnival, young peoplepreparation. The night before the carnival, young peoplemeet to make masks for the second day, in a specialmeet to make masks for the second day, in a specialoutlook on the German folk dances invites all to play andoutlook on the German folk dances invites all to play andfunfun

In the morning of Carnival day, our sleep will be finishedIn the morning of Carnival day, our sleep will be finishedby masked boys who begin to roam the village with train of by masked boys who begin to roam the village with train of accordion, drummer and trumpeter. The stove from theaccordion, drummer and trumpeter. The stove from thewagon were pancakes will be make isn’t missing. Hotwagon were pancakes will be make isn’t missing. Hotsteaming pancakes will be offered in exchange for localsteaming pancakes will be offered in exchange for localflour, the sugar, wine or money.flour, the sugar, wine or money.



The custom was that while, wandering through the village,The custom was that while, wandering through the village,the boys should temp the young masked girls with thethe boys should temp the young masked girls with the

flavor of pancakes. Then brought young girls to the promflavor of pancakes. Then brought young girls to the promwhich was held in the evening, and the girls’ parents had towhich was held in the evening, and the girls’ parents had torepurchase them.repurchase them.

Customary characters of the caravan are the bride andCustomary characters of the caravan are the bride andgroom, priest and old women, all symbolizing humangroom, priest and old women, all symbolizing human journey through life. journey through life.



The children ‘s Fasching.The children ‘s Fasching.

Dozens of tots fall dressed in allDozens of tots fall dressed in all

creatures of the earth, imaginablecreatures of the earth, imaginable

and unimaginable, quiver of and unimaginable, quiver of impatience on the carnival day.impatience on the carnival day.



At the end of carnival, childrenare getting on the Castle.

Desert today after for hundreds of yearshas sheltered the Saxons who were hidingfrom Turkish invasions, the inner courtyard

echoes the voices of happy children.Only the City no longer smells like it used to, the sausages,

flour and spices. The story goes that long ago, the Saxons,after it had no fear of invasion andbecause they have not been forced

to rebuild again and again their burned homesby the oppressors, they decided to store food in the fortress. Throoms were as now, small, cold and dry. The story says that, frotime to time, when someone was going to take their food from th

Fortress for a few hours it gets familiar smell of baked bread orsmoked meat left on. Today, some small room reveals to visitor

fragments of everyday life of the old City

fasching carnival

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