Celebrate "Mardi Gras" German-style at German Language School

Before Valentine’s Day, residents in Germany, Switzerland and Austria shake off the winter blues with Karneval or Fasching, a celebration that includes parades, marching bands, and costumed characters showering the streets with candy while shouting “Helau” or “Alaaf.” The German Language Schools (www.njlearnsgerman.org) with locations in Holmdel, Morristown, Princeton and Rumson will host authentic German Karneval celebrations on Thursday February 1, 2018 from 5:00 to 6:15 in Holmdel, and Saturday, February 3 from 10:15 am to 11:45 am. in Morristown and 11:15 am to 12:45 pm in Princeton. Programs are offered at the German Language School of Morris County at 70 Whippany Road, Morristown, NJ 07960; German Language School 112 Middletown Rd., Holmdel, NJ 07733 and German Language School 7 Vandeventer Ave. Princeton, NJ 08542.

“Each year we host a Cologne-inspired party that shows the costumes, food and music, and similar to celebrations found in Mainz and Dusseldorf,” says Principal Michaela Greco. “The festivities engage our students not only in language, but in sharing culture and traditions that they will remember long after they leave our classes.”

How is Carnival Celebrated?

Just as a high school marching band in uniform with epaulettes performs for a crowd, the “Funkenmariechen” girls, dressed in red and white skirt uniforms, will perform traditional dances. The school principal will announce this year’s Prince and Princess who “rule” their “subjects” back home for the duration of the Karneval season. Parents will provide treats that can include traditional Krapfen, a sweet treat, similar to doughnuts.

Historically, cities throughout Germany along with portions of Austria, and Switzerland celebrate Carnival (Karneval or Fasching), which officially begins on November 11th at 11:11 am and continues until the day before Ash Wednesday, the traditional start of the Lenten season, with only a break for Christmas. For some people, Carnival also represents good and evil with costumed attendees wearing happy and angry masks to signify the happiness of the approaching spring and/or to ward off the dark, evil spirits of winter. No matter how it’s celebrated, the end of Carnival means that spring is fast approaching.

For more information about this event and activities of the German School of Morris County and German Language School in Holmdel, Princeton & Rumson, NJ, visit us online at www.njlearnsgerman.org and share us on Facebook.