Algarve Carnival

Since the Algarve climate is so benign, carnivals take place in February.
The events seem to be a amalgamation of pagan springtime ceremonies and the Christian celebration of Shrove Tuesday.
In Algarve, we go for a more markedly out-doorsy approach and parade around in themed floats and suchlike.
Many towns and villages hold their own events, but the oldest Portuguese carnival, is the one in Loulé.
It would seem that planning for Algarve carnivals starts early in the year, and many locals get involved, making the thousands of paper flowers that adorn the floats. Local participation at the actual events extends to the farmers, who turn out in their tractors to pull the floats. Many get into the mood of the event, with their outfits themed to suit.
Each Algarve carnival seems to have something different to offer.
Most carnivals have a theme, and there's much good-natured satiricising of life's woes and joys, with a particular penchant for having a tilt at politicians, both local and national.
One notable aspect was the wide spread of age groups among attendees. It would seem that Algarve carnivals have something for everyone.
Babies and young children were dressed up for the occasion.
Many of the older young folk sprinted about spraying each other with coloured goo, and popping the occasional egg over each others' heads. It seems that this behaviour is a throwback to pre-carnival times, when rival gangs of youths would throw discarded food and mud at each other. Then, someone came up with the notion of formal processions of carts...

Carnival Song "Carnaval vem Chegando"

O CARNAVAL VEM CHEGANDO

O Carnaval vem chegando

para brincarmos a valer

Máscaras disto ou daquilo

Para ninguém nos conhecer.

O João tem papelinhos

A Maria Serpentinas

Ó Rita traz um apito

Vê lá se não desafinas.

(Refrão)

Vem o Zorro e o bandido

O Drácula e a princesinha

e até o Lobo Mau

dá a mão à avózinha.

(Refrão)

Carnival in Deutscher Kindergarten Erich-Kästner

Carnival in the Kindergarten “Le petit prince“ in Baden-Baden

We celebrated our carnival on February 19. This is the day which is called “schmutziger Donnerstag”, which means “Dirty Thursday” or “Fat Thursday”. In shops, in the streets and everywhere people were dressed up in pyjamas or masqueraded as cowboys, princesses, pirates or something else.
In the kindergarten the theme was “Fairy Tales in Europe” and especially the story “Les bons amis”. So you can even see a carrot on one of the pictures.
We danced and sang songs, we ate a lot of nice things and we made loud noises with music instruments. The people didn’t greet each other by saying “hello”, but “hellau” and “narri narro”. At the end we were tired and happy. So we are awaiting impatiently our next carnival.

Heidi Quéré, Kindergarten Le petit prince

Carnival in Germany – Baden-Württemberg

Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during January and February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.

Alemannic Fastnacht
The « Swabian-Alemannic" carnival begins on January 6 (Epiphany/Three Kings Day). This celebration is known as Fastnacht. Variants are Fasnet, Fasnacht or Fasent. Fastnacht is held in Baden-Württemberger, parts of Bavaria, and Alsace. Switzerland and Vorarlberg, in Austria, also hold this celebration. The festival starts on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, known in these regions as Schmutziger Donnerstag or Fettdonnerstag. In standard German, schmutzig means "dirty", but actually the name is from the local dialect where schmutzig means "fat." Elsewhere the day is called "Women's Carnival" (Weiberfastnacht), being the day when tradition says that women take control. In particular regions of Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria traditional processions of the Perchten welcome the springtime. The Schönperchten ("beautiful Perchts") represent the birth of new life in the awakening nature, the Schiachperchten ("ugly Perchts") represent the dark spirits of wintertime. Farmers yearn for warmer weather and the Perchtenlauf (Run of Perchts; typical scenery) is a magical expression of that desire. The nights between winter and spring, when evil ghosts are supposed to go around, are also called Rauhnächte ("rough nights").

Heidi Quéré

Carnival in Albufeira

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