Karneval!

Ah, holidays. What makes perfect sense to one culture can sound completely bizarre to another. For example, why in the world would women chase men around and try to cut off a piece of their neckties the last Thursday before Ash Wednesday? Especially in conjunction with days off from school, parades, and a "fools' guild" (whatever that is)? What, pray tell, does any of this have to do with Lent? While reading this text I was reminded of a short story by David Sedaris. Apparently, when he was learning French in Paris (along with many other non-French speaking immigrants to France), he and his classmates tried to explain the concept of Easter to a non-Christian colleague using their very limited French language skills. Suffice it to say, the idea of a rabbit that circles the earth in one night--delivering multicolored eggs in celebration of the resurrection of the son of God--made absolutely no sense to her. As with many of these Kultur readings, what sounds silly to us Americans is just a normal part of life in other places. Karneval sounds like a LOT of fun, and I'm a bit disappointed we don't have such a thing here in the States. Memorial Day is much less exciting than ritualistic funerals followed by a fish dinner. I had heard about the carnival season in Venice, but the discovery that it also happens in German-speaking countries is just one more reason to visit!