A colourful and festive time of the year, the dazzling winter carnival tradition with its parades, loud music and people dressed in masks predates Christianity and celebrates the coming of Spring. Here the main attractions.
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Old carnival traditions die hard
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The festival is an anomaly as in most Protestant areas Fasnacht, or carnival, is not usually celebrated. Its survival is a testament to Basel residents’ stubbornness and deep affection for the event – and to human nature. In the early hours of the morning the city lights were dimmed and with the order “Achtung! Morgestraich…
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The different language regions have different names for the pre-Lenten festivities and Roman Catholic and Protestant areas tend to have different styles. But the clownish essence of the event is the same all over the country. The biggest festivities take place in German-speaking areas, where the wacky carryings-on go by the name of fasnacht (fast…
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What are known as the “three most beautiful days of the year” began at 4am on Monday morning. Hundreds of colourfully costumed drummers and pipers crammed the streets and alleys. Basel Fasnacht is famous for its large lanterns illustrated with cartoons lampooning events and people who made the headlines over the past year (pictures and…
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