The Swabian-Alemannic carnival is already in full swing. Colorful parades and fools’ meetings in Tettnang on Lake Constance, for example, attract spectators. The starting signal for the Fasnet fell on Epiphany. “People are happy that the custom can finally be practiced again,” said the spokesman for the Association of Swabian-Alemannic Fools’ Guilds (VSAN) with a view to the past Corona years. You can feel that at every event. The police have so far not noticed the fools and their festivals negatively. “Everything is still calm,” said a spokeswoman for the Konstanz police.
However, the Fasnet does not really get going until February 16th. Nationwide, this Thursday is known as Altweiberfastnacht. Among the fools in the southwest it is called “Schmotziger Dunschtig” or “Gumpiger” Thursday. The largest parades in the Ländle are then on Shrove Monday. The whole spectacle ends on Ash Wednesday, and the Häs – as the fool’s costume is also called – disappears into the closet until next year.
Fastnacht in the southwest is predominantly traditional. The jesters usually embody figures from the village and town history as well as mythical creatures and animals. They often wear elaborately carved masks with their hats. In some places, however, you can also feel the influence of the Rhenish carnival – with figures such as princes and princesses or dance guards.
Landscape meeting Tettnang fools’ timetable 2023 carnival glossary
