Lucerne carnival explodes into life
A “fool” at the Big Bang in Lucerne, which at 5am on Thursday marked the start of one of Switzerland’s biggest carnivals.
A major attraction of the Lucerne Carnival are the Guggemuusige, or masked brass bands which play well-known tunes loudly and often slightly out of tune. Unlike their counterparts in Basel, they do not march through the street in formation but make frequent stops, acting out scenes and mingling with the crowd. There are also many individuals or small groups disguised and playing instruments or pulling practical jokes. The masked balls attract huge crowds and are held in large venues in the evenings.
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