Carnaval (or Carnival)

What is Carnaval or Mardi Gras?

 
Carnaval  (Mardi Gras in the US) is a festive season typically involving a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life. The festival culminates on Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. The date is dependent on that of Easter, and thus can vary from as early as 3 February to as late as 9 March. While in recent years Carnaval has grown in popularity as a raucous, hedonistic event, its roots lie in the Christian calendar, as the “last hurray” before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. 

Origins of The Name

 
The origin of the word Carnaval or Carnival is disputed, but many believes it comes from the Italian words “carne levare”, which literally means “to remove meat”, since meat is prohibited during Lent.

Dutch Carnival Traditions

Carnival is mainly celebrated in the south of The Netherlands. The provinces Limburg and Noord-Brabant are the predominantly Catholic provinces of the Netherlands, where most inhabitants celebrate Carnival. Though some people take the Carnival traditions very seriously, most people keep it simple and just drink, sing and dance wearing a colorful outfit. (I had discussions with Dutch soldiers from outside of Provincie Limburg and they find the festivities somewhat frivolous and silly. The farther north you go in The Netherlands to more "serious" the people seem to be.)

The Carnival celebrations in Maastricht start after the mayor symbolically hands over the key to the city to Prince Carnival. For three days, the Carnival Prince has control of the city and, together with his subjects, celebrates the temporary establishment of their Kingdom of Fools. Merrymakers make their way from pub to pub and greet Prince Carnival with three cheers of “Alaaf”. It seems like each little town and village elects their own Carnaval Prince. The process begins in mid-November and you might have seen signs around your town for the men trying to get "elected" Prince.

Carnival Celebrations

From the 19th of February until the 21st of February 2012 Carnival in Maastricht will be celebrated, also known as “Vasteloavend in Mestreech”. During this three day festival all people forget their boundaries and the city center of Maastricht is filled with thousands costumed people.

On Saturday the 18th of February Carnival will be opened with performances of several Limburg artists. This is also called the “Vastelaoftrap”. The entrepreneurs from the Vrijthof, a famous and large square in the city center of Maastricht, organize this parade of artists to get in the mood for the three craziest days of the year.
Sunday the 19th of February is the first official day of Carnival. On this day the annual parade takes place through the city center of Maastricht. With dazzling decorated vehicles, costumes and music the Carnival celebrating people of Maastricht will go through the city.

The festival will take place on the streets and in the many cafés, although the authentic people of Maastricht only celebrate on the streets. Everywhere you go you see costumed people who enjoy the cosiness, music and of course a drink. People celebrate from early in the morning until late in the evening to fully enjoy these three careless days. Carnival takes place in the city center of Maastricht, but also in the local neighborhoods people celebrate in local community houses and cafés.

Are you in the mood to get crazy? Come and celebrate Carnival in Maastricht and don’t forget your costume and a good mood!

If you are visiting Maastricht during these three days of Carnival, please keep in mind that many shops are closed. 

The Maastricht Tourist bureau published this flyer on the celebrations in the city. 

Click here: Maastricht Carnaval