Some parts of Switzerland actually have five seasons, with carnival season being squeezed in between winter and spring. In fact, the Swiss Fasnacht is such an integral part of life in some regions that business virtually shuts down from Thursday before Ash Wednesday through Ash Wednesday...
Even the most conservative folks from near and far will emerge in their colorful, scary or otherwise outlandish costumes to celebrate the Swiss version of carnival.
Restaurant and bars all over the country are being visited by local Guggemusig bands. These marching bands of a different kind are usually rooted in local history and are popular among most townspeople.
The Gugge provide lavish musical entertainment in the form of popular Fasnacht classics such as “Rivers of Babylon”, “When the Saints Go Marching In” or “Cotton-Eyed Joe”.
So it happened in Zürich and other towns across Switzerland this past weekend. Turn up your speakers, click here and enjoy our impressions from the ZüriCarneval 2012:
Mamiko you look so cute in that sandwich!
& when does Fasnacht start? In Autumn on my birthday 11.11!