Carnival in Radolfzell am Bodensee

In the middle of winter, Radolfzell becomes colourful and turbulent as the town is a southern German centre of carnival, which in Radolfzell is called "Zeller Fasnet". Here, the historical Swabian Alemannic Carnival represents the 5th Season and is one of the most important holidays in the area. The street carnival lasts from "Schmotzigen Dunnschtig" ( Thursday ) to the night before Ash Wednesday, when a big straw puppet is burned and the "Fasnet" ends. The main organizers of the carnival are the so called jester guilds like the "Narrizella Ratoldi" founded in 1841.

Officially, carnival starts on November 11th of the previous year on St. Martin’s Day. Then the guilds gather again at the feast of the Three Kings for an early morning drink. From this date onwards the big fancy-dress balls are held followed by the "Narrenspiegel" ( Fools’ Mirror ) where stories are told making fun of the town’s political situation and cheerful scenes are played out mocking people or happenings.

Highlight of the Zeller Fasnet is the "Hemdglonkerumzug" on the eve before Schmotzige Dunnschtig, where Radolfzellers dress up in old fashioned night- gowns and equipped with loud instruments chase the evil ghosts of winter away. On Thursday morning the pupils are "freed" from school, the fools take over the Town Hall and the fools’ tree is set up in the square. On carnival Sunday there is a big street parade, followed by a fools’ fair on the market place on Monday and on Tuesday the burning of the Carnival straw puppet ends these days with crying and whining of all masked fools!