Whatever You Want to Call It

The 3 Amigos dance at Fasching in Trier

Ryan and Alex

Sarah and I. Sarah and Eric dressed up as ninjas!

Carnivale/Fasching/Mardi Gras, or whatever you want to call it, all mean the same thing: party, Party, PARTY!

The Europeans celebrate a VERY done up Mardi Gras. In Bavaria it is called Fasching, Italy/Switzerland/most other European countries, Carnivale.

Kids are out of school, shops are closed, people are off of work for 5 full days of celebration - this is serious business. The celebration occurs in anticipation of Lent and involves lots of drinking, eating, dressing up, and partying.

Last year we celebrated in New Orleans, this year Carnivale in Venice, and Fasching Trier (not Cologne as planned - long story). As with most holidays, the Europeans WAY outdo the Americans. Venice's Carnivale has definitely been my favorite so far!