‘Karneval’
From the German Classroom,
We recently discussed the question “Wo wohnst du?” (Where do you live?) with the Year 5 and 6 students and were introduced to some children living all over Germany.
The children in Köln (Cologne) have recently celebrated carnival. Carnival time in Germany is one of the most popular traditions celebrated across Germany. It is known as ‘Karneval’, ‘Fasching’ and ‘Fastnacht’, depending on the region. It begins officially on the 11th November at 11:11 am in Cologne and lasts until “Ash Wednesday” the following year. Around this time, a few weeks before Easter, the processions and parties also welcome the spring and celebrate the end of a long, cold winter.
These processions include dressing up in costumes and a having decorative floats that go through the towns with lots of music and dancing. Everyone is on the street and the children especially enjoy all the sweets that are handed out during the parade. ‘Krapfen/Berliner’ (jam doughnuts) are a typical food enjoyed especially at the carnival time.
We decided to celebrate the ‘Karneval’ with our own party in class by adding some masks and other props and singing a modern carnival party song called ‘das Fliegerlied’ (The aeroplane song). The year 5 and 6 students were easily able to learn the words to the song and enthusiastically took part in doing the actions. For a little moment we felt like we were a part of the Carnival fever happening in Germany.
Frau Kerstin Pani
Primary School German Teacher
‘das Fliegerlied'(The aeroplane song) websites:
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