The Carnival of Basel - City

the next (27.2. - 1.3.2012)

If you are already familiar with Basel’s famous carnival, Fasnacht, you may already know most of the information contained in this short guide. But if this is your first visit to our splendid event, which locals like to call the ”most wonderful three days“, we hope to give you some valuable tips about what to see. Fasnacht is like one big family party for the whole of Basel, although guests are obviously more than welcome. It has to be said that our carnival, whose origins are deeply rooted in local tradition, does not give visitors much of an opportunity for active participation in the proceedings. And there are bound to be many things you simply will not understand: our Basel dialect, the things we make fun of (usually local events and personalities), and our own special brand of humour with its strong irony. Even so, you are sure to be fascinated by the incredible party atmosphere, the vivid colours of the carnival costumes, the stirring tunes of the drummers and piccolo players, and the weird and wonderful ”Gugge“ music played by the brass bands.

Perhaps you will simply enjoy wandering around our city’s lively streets, alleys, bars and restaurants, absorbing this unique mixture of
celebration and melancholia, and the haunting enactment of mediaeval ritual: the dance of death (“Totentanz“) and the masquerade (“Mummenschanz“). The best way to enjoy things is simply to wander around the streets and go with the flow. And a final tip: don’t take
our humour too seriously!

Carnival badges
Over the Fasnacht period, everyone traditionally wears a carnival badge (“Blaggedde“). 

They come in four versions: copper, silver, gold
and as a piece of jewellery. All the money from the sale of these badges goes to cover some of the considerable costs of the groups who participate in the carnival. You can buy these badges from street vendors, from carnival members themselves or from a number of
kiosks in town, as well as from special sales stands (“islands“) on Marktplatz

        What are the main events, and when?

Fasnacht lasts exactly three days, from 4.00 am on Monday morning to 4.00 am on Thursday. It is always held in the week after Ash
Wednesday, and most of the action is concentrated in the city centre. 

“Morgenstreich“
The three-day event traditionally kicks off with an early morning procession, the “Morgenstreich“, which starts at 4.00 am on Monday
morning. This is a procession of about 200 illuminated canvass lanterns decorated with paintings and rhymes that make fun of a particular sujet, a local event from the past year. After the city’s streetlights are switched off, these lanterns are paraded through the darkened streets, accompanied by the cliques with their drummers and piccolo players. The bars and restaurants serve the three dishes traditionally associated with Fasnacht: “Mehlsuppe“ (a hearty broth made from flour and onion), and onion and cheese pies. 

Processions

There are two main processions (“Cortèges“), starting at 1.30 pm on Monday and Wednesday. More than 12’000 masked carnival members
parade along a set route through the city centre displaying their ”Sujets“ or special carnival topics, accompanied by the sound of drums, piccolos and ”Gugge“ music. They travel by foot, on carnival floats or horse-drawn carriages, carrying lanterns and many other comicalaccessories. People in the procession throw confetti (“Räppli“) and distribute oranges, yellow mimosa and many other things to the
spectators along the route.

“Schnitzelbänke“

On Monday and Wednesday evening, more than 80 groups of “Schnitzelbank“ singers tour the city’s bars and restaurants, reciting
their verses on local topics from the past year. The melodies vary, but the playful and ironic content is always written in the local dialect.
Tuesday Tuesday is the day for the children, with no main procession but rather groups of adults and children in costume wandering at random around the streets, some of them playing instruments. The highlight of Tuesday evening is the exhibition of the lanterns on Münsterplatz.

”Gugge“ concert

On Tuesday evening, the city centre’s streets are mainly filled with the ”Gugge“ music of the brass bands. The musicians gather from 8.00 pm onwards on Marktplatz, Barfüsserplatz and Claraplatz to play their deafening, discordant but often very catchy tunes.

The ”Gässle”

The ”Gässle“ is special for the residents of Basel and visitors too. It simply refers to the custom of wandering through the narrow lanes
and alleyways of Basel’s Old Town, marching to the hypnotic beat of the small and large troupes of piccolo players and drummers, enjoying
both new and old carnival compositions, and falling into a sort of reverie for a few hours that is entirely in the spirit of this unique festival.

What’s the best way to get to the Fasnacht?

The best way is to come to Basel by train. If you do have to come by car, it’s best to park on the outskirts, preferably in an attended car
park, and use public transport. The city’s transport system continues to operate trams and buses during the Fasnacht period according to a
timetable especially adapted for the event, providing fast and convenient travel in and out of the city, even during the night.

Additional information in the ”Rädäbäng”

There is an official carnival guide for Fasnacht, the ”Rädäbäng“. This 140-page publication mainly in Basel dialect provides a wealth of
general information on this year’s carnival, and also gives details about what all the groups in the procession are supposed to represent.
The ”Rädäbäng” is published two weeks before Fasnacht and is available from the Basel Tourist Office and most kiosks.

The three days of Fasnacht at a glance

Monday, 4.00 am “Morgenstreich”, the opening act to Fasnacht. From 1.30 pm procession of the large and small cliques on a prescribed
route to the impressive sounds of drums and piccolos. In the evening the cliques and individual pipers and drummers wander freely through
the streets and lanes of the city centre. ”Schnitzelbank“ singers visit the restaurants, while in the evening an exhibition of lanterns can be
seen on Münsterplatz.

Tuesday, lantern exhibition on Münsterplatz. All day and evening,large and small groups wander through the streets. Children’s Fasnacht
during the day. In the evening concerts by “Gugge“ music groups on Barfüsserplatz, Claraplatz and Marktplatz.

Wednesday, till 11.00 am lantern exhibition on Münsterplatz. From 1.30 pm free circulation of all large and small cliques throughout the
city centre as on Monday.

Carnival etiquette

There are no rules and regulations for Fasnacht. But there are somethings you simply should or should not do:

”Morgenstreich”
Make sure you arrive in good time. There’s quite a crowd, and at 4.00 am all lights are being switched off. Leave handbags and valuable
items at home, and only take as much cash as you really need. It’s best not to wear contact lenses. Wear warm and sensible clothing.
Keep with your friends, but do not link arms to form a chain. Agree in advance to meet at a specific rendezvous point at certain times, in
case you lose one another. The most important requirement for the “Morgenstreich“ is total darkness. Do not open curtains or light fireworks. Do not use flash photography, as it dazzles those marching in the procession. In any case, you will find your photos of the lantern look more atmospheric with no flash.

General points
Make sure your carnival badge is prominently displayed. Unlike other carnival events, painted faces, false noses, jester’s caps, bawdy
songs, raucous or drunken behaviour are all frowned upon at Basel Fasnacht. The participants’ masks, instruments and other carnival paraphernalia restrict their mobility. So please make a point of not getting in their way. Let them go first especially when they go for their well-earned breaks in restaurants.

Good manners and general consideration for other people are especially
important during Fasnacht: 

Always make room for children, pregnant women, the elderly and the disabled. Do not throw oranges or other objects back at the participants or into the crowds. Do not pick up “Räppli“ from the street. Drums and other accessories are valuable items and personal property, not souvenirs to take home. In short: try to be nice to