Fasching Ferien (Carnival Vacation)

This week is Fashing Ferien, which means Mia has the week off for Carnival. Fasching is the time leading up to lent that people just let loose and enjoy. During Lent, people give something up for 40 days. We laugh at 2 different ways of thinking. We have friends that give up alcohol for 40 days, but in old times, people gave up food (and only had beer). In Germany, Beer is considered a food group - so funny! Mia and I went to Bamberg for most of the week to visit friends. Bryan was able to join us for the "Memmelsdorf Fashing Parade" which is one of our favorites. It is one of those experiences that makes you smile. It is just complete silliness and fun. 

We thought this was funny. A little guy with his toy gun. With political correctness, not sure how that would have been received back home :-)

Getting ready - the streets are starting to fill up in the little town...

Tempting all the kids with fun balloons...

This made me laugh...There is a poster on the base that warns you against suspicious people. The picture  on the poster looks just like this guy in his tall hat and trench coat. I guess maybe I should have reported him :-). 

People really get into it :-) These were just specators

and so the parade begins...

not only is lots of candy thrown...

but bananas, bread, prosecco, and this year Mia even got an onion plant thrown to her too!

such fun Music and silliness

handing out beer...

such funny and creative costumes! Somebody was even dressed up in a box that was decorated as a "porta potty" :-)

The big tractors coming through always make me a bit nervous (with the lack of liability), but somehow it always works out fine :-)

Leprechauns..

And instead of Pirates or as you would say in German "Piraten", here is "Bieraten" :-) Handing out more beer!

And at the end of the Parade, the local Mens club poured Cany out of huge buckets! 

After, we went across the street to a local Brewery with friends. Mia and her friend counted all of their candy :_)

And on the way back to the car, they still were sifting through looking to see if  any candy was left behind :-). The great thing is that within  2 hours after the parade, the city was back in pristine condition with everything picked up.