Is there Halloween in Germany?

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Alwin E

Difficult question.

Let's start with Karneval / Fasching first (two words, same meaning, different regions). As to the most popular form of Karneval, Harley already gave you a good answer and posted an informative picture link.

This kind of Karneval culminates in the FaschingsumzÃ¼ge, where waggons with paper-machÃ© figurines on them cruise through the city, picking up in a humorous way the political events of the by-gone year. Here's an example:
http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bild:Rosenmontag_Duesseldorf.jpg&filetimestamp=20060306193404

Those events are even broadcast live on TV, as well as the big gala sessions that consist of humoristic speeches, political satire, and typical Karneval music. Enter e.g. "Mainz bleibt Mainz" at YouTube to see some video examples.

So besides of the (more or less) colorful and inventive masquerade, and excessive drinking, this sort of carnival also is politico.

There's a more traditional form of Fasching, however. It's mostly in the south where people go disguised as wild beasts, or devils, ringing huge bells, beating drums, or making noise with all kinds of devices. This is more halloween-like, but as German carnival is in spring, the pagan background is to defeat (or celebrate the victory over) the evil spirits of winter.
Here's one of the less frightening Fasching costumes:
http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bild:Narrenzunft_Tettnang_Hopfennarr_Narrentreffen_Me%C3%9Fkirch_2006.jpg&filetimestamp=20060219223711

In some regions of Germany, such like Berlin, carnival isn't popular at all.

German carnival isn't necessary a children's festival like halloween is. There is one day (carnival tuesday) where children go in disguise, but besides of that, it's rather for the adults.

So now to the Germans' picking up of halloween. As you might imagine, opinions vary from "a wonderful event for children" to "American nonsense, we don't need that". All I can see is that children like it, so we shouldn't discuss whether we "need" that or not. The only other option kids have for an allowed night-time experience is the St Martin's lantern march: religious, and much more quiet than halloween. In a country that gets less religious every day, I think we NEED halloween for our kids. But that's just a personal opinion, and, yes, I always have HUGE amounts of sweets in store for them.

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@flugelsbach:
I didn't know where "German Halloween" originated from; thanks a lot for the additional info.
I live in a very small town in Bavaria (~3,000 inhabitants), and kids here have been picking it up rapidly the last three, four years or so. Of course there are commercial interests helping promote it (never seen such amounts of pumpkins at stores like last autumn), but I think that for the kids, it's just fun.

For all those who speak German:
I never get tired to link to this blog by an American who lives in Germany and writes in German; the blog title reads (for all those not familiar with the vernacular) "USA explained", and he also writes about Halloween:
http://usaerklaert.wordpress.com/2006/10/18/halloween-ein-leitfaden-fur-die-nacht-der-kinder/

flugelsbach

I've lived in Germany for 20 years and watched Halloween, my favorite holiday, grow from off base parties to local German communities. This occurred after the Americans started pulling out of the communities. The events used to be held in American housing and on military bases and hourds of kids would come because that's the best place to get American candy and for free. They still really didn't understand what Halloween was about or that it didn't originally come from the states, just that it was a great party. I live in small community of about 6 to 7000 people where Halloween started about 6 years ago, my kids had a fit because they had never experienced it with the Germans before. People came into the streets with tables and chairs and had grill parties and really welcomed the kids. There is also Frankenstein Castle located by Darmstadt just outside of Frankfurt am Main. This tradition was started by an American over 30 years ago. He rented the castle and hired professional actors to come in and play the part of the famous caracters Dracula, his Wife, Frankenstein and so on. It attracts very large crowds. I believe the Germans are seeing the business potentials of Halloween and are starting to expand the parties, or I hope so. Since most of the Americans have left it's up to ex pats or locals to carry on the tradition.

Harley

Well yes, and no.

Halloween is slowly picking up but it will never be anything like it is in the states. The best memory of halloween in germany is when the turkish kids used to sneak on post, wearing their mothers clothes and makeup, it was totally hilarious. At least I taught them the good ol' "Trick or treat, smell my feet..." way of requesting goodies.

Anyways, Germans have something called Fashing. It is more popular in certain areas, such as Cologne (Koln), and is typically celebrated during the week before Lent.

Here is a pretty funny link to what Germans look like during Fashing. It often involves a parade where you get tossed candy from people on makeshift floats.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/267118451npMFhK

Honestly, I know people will say otherwise but Fashing varies depending on what part of Germany you're in.

Hope that helped.

destiny

Well.... my dear...
Harley, Alvin & Co. have already held a "thesis" on our customs over here, which leaves hardly anything left for me to "add", because they've explained it extensively & correctly as well....
The only "thing" I may add is, that I've noticed quite a "boom" in the past few years what Halloween articles (costumes, etc.) concerns... It's like with any other "item"...when "commerce" gets to make money on a product, they naturally will promote it !!! So lately, we experience more & more Halloween articles in the stores, but mainly for the "partying public" & not the original "trick-or-treat-tradition" like it's celebrates in the US ! However, I love Halloween, Fasching & Carneval in every aspect it comes in!!! Lots of greetings from Germany .... Annette***

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