European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Basel s Celebration is unique by Norm Zeiger travel outdoor writer Venie e s is More elegant. Cologne s is bigger. Main s is Wilder. Hut in Sou go to Only one Arnival event in Europe in should in1 Basel s i. Ike Tern Ingway s i ans the carnival Celebration in Thi medieval Swiss Illy is a feast will stay with you Lor the rest of your life. It begins in the Blae k predawn hours of the first Monti by of Lent with Lens of thousands of Spet t into the old City for he mor emf rat sir in a every year. Allot them arc1 members of several Hundred Cir i Rii or / Srur it societies Thill h.iyi1 been tic ing most of the previous year the children of Basel learn Early to master the do in life and drum tunes that in former limes were played by Swiss mercenaries Marc lung Oil to War. The Cir Teri run year round schools for aspiring drummers and Pic Colo players. During the Mir Carmic Tihe i ours arc led by huge lanterns each h one a hand painted work of Art that pokes fun Al some institution or political figure. Next come the up i Oto players lol loped by a r,mi6ounm, drum major and the n Clr ummers. Depending on the Sie of the a i i he. A confetti showers Down on a Fps not fit crowd in Al Jar . It i in 11 of Marc hers i in number anywhere irom a do in or Solo several Hundred. Mori than any other major carnival , the eerie predawn ritual of the a1o/jrm/mi / evokes Anc Lent Pagan festivals. In the darkness and Winter c Hill it is easy to understand the original intent of the frightful masks and noise killing the spirit of Winter and do my off death. Basel is an exception to the Catholic tradition of most c Arnival tiles. Hie baseless in True Independent Swiss fashion were determined to hold onto their i even after the reformation swept the c ill Inlo the protestant c amp in 1s.". To under is Ore ihe1 break with Catholic ism 10 years later the lest Vilies were extended beyond Ash wednesday. The spec Hil flavor and traditions of hark a k Lopre Christian a Mannii Winter lest Alv 1 he Alemanni were an ancient Fie manic tribe that inhabited the area known in soil Erland Anil Germany is. The k Lori country Corner. It me Ludes portions of soil Erl Ancl Germany and i rant e a Cir Basel celebrations in Many parts of the Lilac k i ores Are also rooted in Alemanno tradition and tradition is what is about. Unlike the wild wide open Parade parties in the Large German c Hies participation is reserved for native baseless. Known As Bibl Iii the local Clia Lect. Felix von Rohr of the i i / so i i Calls it a festival the baseless have reserved for themselves and celebrated at t of fling to prec ise rituals for a very Long the three Day inn is a time for coming together Tor reliving a sense of c immunity that draws Bac k expatriate baseless and emigres from throughout t Europe and the world. As part of ibis process of reasserting their identity the baseless make a Point of speaking dialect i during the festivities. Bankers lawyers and Dot tors who Haven t spoken it for most of a year lapse easily into their native Tongue a colourful offshoot of German nearly impossible for non natives to understand. An outsider who addresses a t Elebrant in High German often gets a Friendly butt site i of reprehensible response. Consider yourself a guest at an exotic family t von Rohr advises visitors. And above All. Don t t. Ike and thing too in the West German t Mil s of Cologne Anil Mam. Vou will see visitors in every kind of outlandish costume but in Basel tourists in masque Are As rare As profligate Swiss. 1 Ike spilling the punch at a Garden party it is simply not done. Hut though the to suites Mil Parade Are the natives Domain tie re is nothing o of Anuj 25, 1990 of trips Magazine
