Fasnacht has arrived in Lucerne and the whole city is ready to celebrate!
Fasnacht, or carnival, is celebrated annually and usually spans two weeks in February or March. This year it is running from February 12nd to the 17th.
Whether you are planning to soak up the atmosphere by taking advantage of all the activities, or if you’re just looking to dip in and out, we have listed below the key events. For a full overview make sure to head over to the Luzerner Fasnacht website.
Tuesday 10th February from 11.00 to 23.00: Usgüüglete unter der Egg
The ‘Usgüüglete’ is, so to speak, the second day of the Fasnachtsmäärt. Traditionally, vendors dressed in blue and white sell the current carnival badge throughout the city of Lucerne so that everyone can pin the symbol of the Lucerne carnival to their lapels! Historically, the ‘carnival’ was proclaimed at the Usgüüglete, i.e. the upcoming days of revelry were announced.
Today, the Usgüüglete is a boisterous gathering of carnival revellers, who know that the new carnival will finally begin the day after tomorrow with SchmuDo!
Wednesday 11th February: Guuggerbaum
The Fasnacht (Guugger) tree will be placed at Kornmarkt this evening in a procession to mark the evening before Fasnacht. Various bands will put their flags onto this tree. Meeting at 19:00 at Mühlenplatz, the procession with torches will begin at 19.30 and participants are expected to be dressed in black with white gloves. At the end of the ceremony Kaffee Träsch will be handed out to the revellers
Thursday 12th February: Schmutzig Donnerstag / SchmuDo (Dirty Thursday)
At 5 a.m. on Dirty Thursday, it’s that time of year again: the ‘fifth season’ begins in Lucerne with the big bang at the Fritschi Tagwache.
When Brother Fritschi and his companions arrive at the Schweizerhofquai at 5 a.m. to open the carnival with a big bang, the city of lights on the Reuss river is transformed into a seething cauldron of merriment. Hundreds of Guuggenmusig musicians blow their horns with all their might or beat their drums and timpani. Rumblings and blasts begin to echo through all the alleys of the old town, and groups dressed in the most colourful costumes parade across the bridges. At the Kornmarkt, carnival revellers of all ages begin to dance and jump, sway and clap. And once the Fritschivater has set off the ‘Fötzeliräge’ on the stage of the Fritschibrunnen fountain on Kapellplatz, there’s no stopping them.
The first main procession (the Lucerne parade / Fritschiumzug) will begin at 13.45 from the Hofkirche and end at Hirschmattstrasse. You can find a map of the route here.
Smaller processions (zögli) and celebrations will take place throughout the city for the rest of the day. Prepare for the noise, fun, and chaos of Fasnacht!
Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February: the city celebrates
Various events in the city centre will be taking place, expect it to be loud, colourful and entertaining!
Monday 16th February: Güdis Montag / Güdis-MO (Fat Monday):
The second Lucerne parade (Weyumzug) takes place at 14:00. This is the one shown on television. Even if you are not signed up, you can still take part in the procession as long as you have a mask on. This is considered to be the biggest night by many, partly due to the fact that both Monday and Tuesday blur into one for many Fasnachtlers!
Tuesday 17th February: Güdis Dienstag (Fat Tuesday):
By now Fasnacht is blurring the days and hours. The children’s procession takes place at 14.30pm from Mühlepatz and goes to the Jesuit church.
The biggest procession (Monstercorso) is in the evening and begins at 19:30pm. All the Guggemusic groups will take part in this, and the party will last until dawn.
Friday 20th: the Guuggerbaum felling
There is one last meeting of Fasnacht at Kornplatz at 19:30pm to remove the Guuggerbaum. After this, the city reminisces on the season and keenly awaits the next Fasnacht…
