Good fun, sweet pretzels, and hot fire
Little Luxembourg is not Rio, Cologne or any other carnival stronghold, yet, you can experience colorful, cheerful carnival traditions in many places including the different Fuesent around the country, the local name for masked balls and cavalcades.
Carnival in Luxembourg starts at the beginning of February and goes until the end of March. It starts one day after the traditional Liichtmëssdaag, when children go from house to house singing with lanterns in their hands to receive sweets or money in return. After that, the first festive parades with colorful costumes, decorated floats and music, known as “cavalcades”, start. The first carnival procession of this kind took place in 1870 in Diekirch, where the largest procession in Luxembourg still takes place today with over 20,000 visitors (this year March 3). There are other parades in Remich (March 11), Esch-sur-Alzette (March 3-5), and Petange (March 11). A special parade for children is held in Kayl.
A spectacular event, always on Ash Wednesday, or Äschermëttwoch,, (February 22 this year), is the Stréimännchen ceremony in Remich. Young people out of control carry a huge doll made of straw through town, then set it on fire and throw the figure into the Moselle River. This marks the end of carnival in the Moselle region.
Feasting and fasting
In other regions of Luxembourg, carnival days extend beyond Ash Wednesday, sometimes even until the end of Lent. The word carnival comes from carne vale: a farewell to meat because after the wild festivities, the Catholic Church traditionally begins Lent. Once again there is plenty of feasting and drinking. For example, the traditional Nonnefäscht, a type of sweet pancake; the Täertelcher , a doughnut; the Maisercher, doughnuts shaped like a mouse; or the Verwurrelter Gedanken, or “scrambled thoughts”, which are knots of fried pastry dusted with sugar.
In Luxembourg, people sometimes celebrate far beyond Ash Wednesday rather than fasting, until Pretzel Sunday, or Bretzelsonndeg. According to tradition, on this day a man offers a sweet-dough pretzel to his sweetheart as a token of his love. If she reciprocates his love, she gives him an Easter egg on Easter Sunday. If she doesn’t feel the same way, he gets an empty basket. In leap years, this tradition is reversed: the man receives a pretzel from the woman on Pretzel Sunday. And so, the carnival ends either with the joy of love, or heartbreak.
On the first Sunday after Carnival, Buergbrennen takes place. Buergen (torches) are set alight across the country to chase winter away. It’s a popular meeting place and a spectacular event. Grilled food and traditional dishes such as Ierzebulli (pea soup), Bouneschlupp (bean soup) and Glühwäin (mulled wine) are served to warm up the spectators. Luxembourg has plenty of local traditions to take part in during carnival season!
1/
Carnival in Luxembourg - Pétange European Cavalcade
2/
Carnival in Luxembourg - Pétange European Cavalcade
Things to consider before traveling
How to choose your accommodation in Europe: a guide
In Europe, there is accommodation for every wish, price range, and desired experience. Whether it’s a tent suspended between two trees, a five-star hotel with a view of a turquoise sea, or a wallet-friendly hostel, it’s all here. The question is, what specific options do you have and how do you go about choosing? That’s […]
The ultimate guide to European currencies
How to convert cash, use cards, and reduce fees One of the great benefits of traveling around Europe is the ease of use when it comes to currencies. On much of the continent, you don’t need to worry about keeping different bills and coins or making mental-math conversations between one currency to another to […]
How to stay safe while traveling in Europe
No matter what, safety while traveling is most important. Luckily, Europe has a stellar safety record, and more than a dozen of its countries regularly appear at the top end of safest places to live and travel lists. To make your adventure safe and secure, consider these tips and best practices! Travel insurance […]
What you need to enter Europe
Visas, documents, and passports So, you are planning to visit Europe. Great! We will be happy to welcome you and share what makes this continent so unique. Here are answers to the most common questions about preparing for your trip. Addressing them now will make your travels smooth, easy, and convenient! Who needs a […]
Your complete guide to planning your daily life in Europe
Tips on local languages, mobile tech, and time zones We all know the feeling: your phone battery is dying or you’re passing through an area of weak signal. At home, it’s usually a simple annoyance, but when you’re traveling, not having access to a communications device is something you’ll want to avoid. So, how […]
Some tips to consider while traveling
Traveling around Europe
Your guide to trains, trams, busses and bikes Europe has one of the most advanced transportation systems in the world. From massive metropolises to small towns, you can easily link up from place to place by public transport. Riding the rails across this marvelous continent might be the best way to explore: it’s highly efficient, […]
Tips to communicate in Europe
Why speaking a few words of the local tongue will make your travel experience even better As you may have guessed, English is widely spoken in Europe, especially in northern countries. In many other countries, people have a good, if not fluent, grasp of the language. But that doesn’t mean that learning—and indeed using! […]
Your guide to passenger rights while traveling in Europe
If you’re a traveler, you’ve probably experienced a delay, cancellation, or other unforeseen issue. Of course, no one wants this, but it’s important to be prepared and perhaps most of all, to know your rights and privileges if a problem arises. So, what are your rights in Europe? Keep reading! Air Passenger Rights So, […]