What a strange yet hilarious thing: Fasching

What is Fasching? 
Think of Halloween and Mardi Gras rolled into one extended weekend. Carnival German-style!

When is Fasching?
This year it's February 28 - March 5.

What happens during Fasching?
Anything and everything, we've been told. The Thursday (so last Thursday) kicked off with an election of the carnival prince and/or princess, and women stormed town hall. Women are also allowed to cut off the ties of any guy they see. And kiss whatever guy they want.

Throughout the weekend, there are parties setup in restaurants, bars, and even in tents they break out and setup. It's one big dance party, plus all the festival food stands and drinks come out!

The big event though, is Monday (Rosenmontag) with a huge parade. Some of the floats have a political bent to them, too.

Is this everywhere in Germany?
Nope, we're in a special city. It's only really big in Kolin (Cologne for you newbies) and in Mainz.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part! Everyone dresses up.

Dresses up!? In what?
All kinds of costumes, especially polar fleece animal costumes.

That sounds weird. Do many people participate?
Just about everyone. Looking at pictures from last year, I thought to myself "there's no way I'm doing THAT" but it's totally not weird.

So... what are you wearing?
I'm a bright lime green dragon/dinosaur. Rrraww!

Matt WAS a penguin on Saturday, but with our cheapo costumes, the zipper broke before we got to wear it again. So for Monday, thanks to our friends who had a spare, he was a giraffe.

It's hard to see the penguin awesomeness here, but trust me, it was going on.

 Emo giraffe pose.

 Cutie.

What happened during the parade?
So the parade is still going on as I type this. We just came back for a quick rest before heading back out in the evening and getting our dance and dinner on! Here are some photos!

This is the calm before the storm. We got invited to a pre-game party for someone who had a super sweet apartment right over this square:

They even somehow fit this deadly ride into the square.

Here's everyone getting ready for the parade!

And then it begins!

 As I said, lots of political floats. Like this, one of at least two NSA/Anti-American floats. Here is Angela Merkel with her cell phone, and behind her is the Statue of Liberty.

 Sweet car.

Lotsa fun. There were lots of bands playing too, so Matt was happy to see that. A lot of the floats also threw candy and other random stuff, so we got some goodies.

Okay - time for a quick nap, then we'll be meeting back up with our friends for dinner!