What a unique day, I have had....
Rain rain go away. It poured as I awaited the arrival of the tour bus. Fortunately, it ended by the time we arrived at the parade and stayed away until we started our walk back to the bus after the parade. God had his eye on us all today.
First off, let me explain what fasching is. Fasching (German word for Carnival) is the high point of what the Germans call the "fifth season" of the year. It is a pre-Lenten celebration, intended as one last fling before the fasting and austerity of lent and others see is as a way to scare away the evil spirits of winter. Today we went to Poltringen for its parade. It was an Allemanische Fastnachts parade, which included bands and groups in costume with hand-made masks that are often passed down from generation to generation.
Rain rain go away. It poured as I awaited the arrival of the tour bus. Fortunately, it ended by the time we arrived at the parade and stayed away until we started our walk back to the bus after the parade. God had his eye on us all today.
First off, let me explain what fasching is. Fasching (German word for Carnival) is the high point of what the Germans call the "fifth season" of the year. It is a pre-Lenten celebration, intended as one last fling before the fasting and austerity of lent and others see is as a way to scare away the evil spirits of winter. Today we went to Poltringen for its parade. It was an Allemanische Fastnachts parade, which included bands and groups in costume with hand-made masks that are often passed down from generation to generation.
The people in costume were very kind to the children, they would stop and place candy in each child's hand. They also liked to play tricks on the adults. They put confetti down women's shirts, which happened to me, they put straw in their hair, they pick them up and potato sack carry them down the street, they put smears of colored paint on their faces, two guys grab a girl(one lays down, they lay the girl on top, then the other lays on top of her, next they log roll with her between them),and they also send girls through a netting machine, similiar to the netting on a Christmas tree. This is when you see the differences in personal space between here and the US. Many other masked people posed for pictures and walked the street with their small children, all in costume.
I really had a good time, ate a great wurst sandwich, bought a few beers for Andrew, and purchased a mini version of a mask made out of plaster of paris.
AND made a new friend, who has asked me to babysit her daughter a few times a week. The mother just started a job at an elementary school, as an assistant teacher, she applied in Sept., and wasn't offered a job until January....so I need to be patient....
Tomorrow, I have a massage scheduled which is much needed after tonite's workout....too long on the elliptical machine...
I really had a good time, ate a great wurst sandwich, bought a few beers for Andrew, and purchased a mini version of a mask made out of plaster of paris.
AND made a new friend, who has asked me to babysit her daughter a few times a week. The mother just started a job at an elementary school, as an assistant teacher, she applied in Sept., and wasn't offered a job until January....so I need to be patient....
Tomorrow, I have a massage scheduled which is much needed after tonite's workout....too long on the elliptical machine...
