April 8
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We have arrived in Bad Dürrheim near Villingen to visit the southern German non-Roman version of Mardi Gras called Fastnacht. Fastnacht is only celebrated in the Allamannic area. |
Here are a few random examples of the wide variety of costumes (Häs) of various twons throughout the Black Forest area | ![]() |
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Handmade wooden masks and a lot of noise makers to drive out the spirits of winter and wake up the spirits of spring |
Getting hit with the pig bladder (Saubloder) used to mean fertility. Today itmeans good fortune. | ![]() |
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In a lot of costumes, the closeness to nature is visible. |
Witches, costumes only worn by men, are very common. | ![]() |
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The masks are often eerie looking to scare the evil ghosts and spirits. |
The Horberger Devils and Brunnenhansele | ![]() |
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Another intersting Devil mask |
Or trunk-like noses such as these masks from the Radolfzell area | ![]() |