Carnival Parade

by Kelsey Nair
 

On the 12th January 2020, I had the first time experience of going to a carnival parade in Pfäffingen. Was Germany going to provide a great first time experience?

Before the parade we had a lecture on what it was about which got me more interested in it. Upon arrival at the parade, you could already tell it was going to be a great day. The atmosphere was lively and colorful. It was fun to see that all ages were included in the parade and even the spectators, young and old were having a good time( despite the cold weather). It was the perfect outing for the whole family.

What made the parade so vibrant was the amazing detailed outfits of the various participants from each village. I learnt that a lot of time and effort goes into preparing for this parade and it really shows. There were about 55 different characters and costumes to see. I must admit some of the witches’ masks were quite creepy but in the end I got used to them.

It was enjoyable to see the interaction between the people participating in the parade and the spectators. For example some of the participants would pick up and swing the kids, they jump into selfies and one of my favorite part, is that they give out candy (that made me feel like a kid again). The participants are known for pulling pranks during the parade such as stealing shoe laces and beanies and making you run after, throwing confetti with either paper or straw, I was lucky not to have my laces stolen but that didn't save me from the smear of black paint on my face and confetti in my jacket. It was a funny moment and I didn't mind because it was all part of the fun.

The culture of everyone being together and having fun was a beautiful experience. I enjoyed many things during the parade for example, the human pyramid, the music being played, the little dances here and there and watching people being scared by the witches and running after their laces was quite entertaining. 

To answer my question in my introduction, I would have to say that Germany and Pfäffingen especially provided me with a spectacular first time experience at a parade. I think I felt this way because I felt involved in the parade due to the interaction with the participants. I made many great memories on that day with my friends and the pictures correlate so well with that. It’s always a pleasure having fun with friends and laughing and helping one another when we got messed with paint and confetti. I would love for one day for my family to experience this parade.

Fastnacht was a truly memorable day for me and I enjoyed every second of it. It may not be everyone's glass of beer but it was certainly mines.