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18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Fasching 2

In the southwest of Germany, a special type of traditional carnival is being celebrated each year to this date. It is called Fasching and marks the end of winter. In the streets of villages, people gather on the sidewalks and wait for witches and dark creatures to walk down the streets and scare away the spirits of the cold winter. This way they clear the path for spring to come. Needless to say that today people in Germany do not believe in spirits or ghosts. The tradition of Fasching remains nonetheless a bedrock of their annual celebration calendar. Fasching unions and clubs are active all year round: prepare their custom-made costumes, carve out individual wooden masks, recruit new witches, practice performances, learn instruments, collect donations... The whole village is involved in scaring away the evil spirits of winter.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Close to Tübingen, Germany
Copyright: © Basim Ghomorlou