Truly, that’s how I’m feeling. Between this horrible weather of mud, snow, rain, and hail, I’m losing my mind. But this time of year in Wolach and the surrounding communities in the Black Forest, “come rain or shine, ” they are celebrating Fastnacht regardless.” Fastnacht is a traditional Black Forest celebration held every February. It is to celebrate the coming of spring and the chasing out of winter (so far, it’s not working). With this weather, it set the stage for a very challenging four days of celebration.
Before the big parade shown above, there are several days of celebration. One of which is called Kaffee Tanten. The women of the town dress in original 1800s attire, and the men wear cooks’ outfits, beating their drums as the parade marches on. It is rather a sight to see and hear! I had to take this picture from last year since it was raining and I was not about to head out to see furs get drinched.
Another celebration is hosted by ten of the town’s cafes and restaurants. Each provides traditional meals, and comedians travel to each location to entertain the attendees. We always go to the Hecht with friends. Of course, we had to get in the mood!
The swabish accent is a little hard to follow, especially the jokes. But it is a great time to be had, and so fun to see all the costumes and folks decked out. Each year, there are different shows and presentations poking fun at members of the community or the news on TV.
Of course, Lutz was a great participant!
The major parade was filled with locals and their families. By the time the first band came through, the rain came and hail! No one left but me; I ran to the Hecht restaurant for cover. Dedicated filks, I’d say!
It’s not for the weak, that’s for sure. These participants join each year, and their costumes are handed down to family members. This little guy will one day wear his parents’ costume and push his own child in the years to come.
The masks are very old and hand-carved, so each is very unique. I especially enjoy the costumes with bells. As they walk, they take three steps and then jump. The sound is amazing.
This group was new for our parade. They came from another town to join in. They remind me of Irish hunters! I love the way the masks cause you smile right along with them. Come on now, be honest: you did smile back at the drummer on the right, didn’t you?
These guys are so scary. I’m sure they scared winter away cause next week there is going to be sun. They always hunt me down, and their trick is to put confetti in people’s hair. I’m a good candidate!
These guys are sneaky. You see that wooden grabber they carry? They use it to steal your hat or candy! All in all, Fastnacht is a wonderful tradition. The history of Fastnacht is fascinating, and I found this cool YouTube post that explains our area’s history of it very well. It is read in English by a German, and there are subtitles if his accent becomes hard to follow. It is worth watching. You can also check out this Wikipedia article about this very old tradition.
One of my favorite things to do is to hook up with my international friends from around the world. Many are married to German men like me. I get a chance to speak German and English. This time, we held our clothes exchange at my house, and I tricked my dear friend Julie into helping me make some traditional Asian food for our friends.
We made summer rolls and air-fried veggie spring rolls. She’s a real friend who stuck around after I invited her for coffee and cake, and then surprised her with a brilliant cooking idea.
Everyone brought something to nibble on!
Seems odd that we come together to share food and conversation, and try on clothes, but somehow it works, and everyone goes home happy with a “new to me” free outfit and…
A full belly!
This weather tends to make me want to stay home and read or cook. So, when Lutz invited Gaby and Erich to spend the night, I was elated. Gaby is a superb cook and loves to try new things. This weekend, we decided to make Indian food.
I was the sous chef for Gaby while she made the most delicious chicken curry with spinach. I made one of my favorite Indian dishes that had been marinating for two days, tandoori chicken with assorted grilled veggies and tandoori sauce. Poor Lutz, he had to cook in the rain.
Regardless of the rain, dinner was a success!
The best part of this month was spending time with people who have huge hearts and shared values!
Hope to see you all next month when the sun is out, and we can grill without an umbrella, go in our jacuzzi, ride our bikes, and take my Mazda Miata, Fritz, for a cruise. Until then, I hope daily life isn’t driving you nuts and that you find something that brings you joy amidst challenging circumstances. Hugs!
Fave Recipe: Creamy Spinach Chicken
It’s raining too much, and I’m not going to the store. So, I used what I had, and holy moly, delicious creamy spinach chicken!
Fave Resource: What Foods Cause or Reduce Inflammation?
If you have an autoimmune challenge, this resource is perfect for you I’m always trying to read more about mine, Hypothyroid Hashimoto’s Whether you have remoteoid arthritis, celiac disease, or any number of autoimmune challenges, this resource might interest you This month, I explored sites offering free meal plans to help with inflammation Hopefully, looking for a new idea to incorporate into my existing meal plans I was really surprised to discover...click here to read more.
I'm Melinda Stevens and living the life of a beach bum was inevitable since my father was a lifeguard for the city of Los Angeles. My memories of growing up on John Street in Manhattan Beach, California were filled with joy, excitement and adventures; until my world, as I knew it, fell apart when we moved to Del Mar, California. My father was offered the position as Captain of the lifeguards and we started the slow migration to the small deserted stretch of beach in 1963. At twelve years old, this seemed like the end of my life. Remember, I’m writing with clear hindsight now, ok somewhat clearer… Little did I know this would be the beginning of a new journey and give a bit more clarity to many of the events that led me to this new cooking adventure.