Triberg in the Black Forest  
there is more to see than the waterfall
     
Carnival is not only something for the inhabitants,
it's an event for everybody!!!
     
A little bit background-knowledge about carnival:
Carnival in the Black Forest does not only have to do something with disguising, it is a long tradition in the so-called "fifth season". Likewise in the small town Triberg in the middle Black Forest can be prove fool dresses became made since the year 1525. At that time it applied to drive the winter out on the "närrischen (crazy) days".

Up to 19th century carnival was partially forbidden by wars and changing governments. End of the 19th century the carnival wins in entire Southern Germany at meaning; in Triberg the "Narrenvereinigung Stabhalterei" was founded in the year 1868 and the "Narrengemeinde Oberstadt" in the year 1900.
Finally in the year 1928 the " Narrenzunft (fool guilt) Triberg" was founded, which lets revive domestic carnival customs and became member of the "Vereinigung der schwäbisch-alemannischen Narrenzünfte (union of the Swabian alemannic fool guilds)" in the year 1960. Nowadays is proven the fact that carnival has the origins in the Christian faith
     
The costumes of the city:
The fool guilt Triberg possesses three costumes, which exist already since the last decade of the 19th century. Since that time they were hardly changed and belong to the oldest and still active fool figures of carnival in the southwest of Germany.
Main figure is the devil, today almost 110 years old. The mask was designed and carved 1893 for the first time by Friedrich Pfahrer. The order for it gave the institute for costume rental Erhardt. Carl Erhardt possessed two further costumes, the "Red Fox" and the "Federeschnabel", which looks like a bird. Short time later Erhardt designed a matching costume for the devil mask.
The beginning of carnival
in Triberg in the year 1930.
After the two world wars carnival became more and more popular. Mayor and some of the "Narrenräte (fool councils)" wanted a significant figure, which could be worn by the population and gave Manfred Merz the order to carve further devil masks. The Red Fox and the Federeschnabel are still single figures. In this time Merz designed the mask of the "Spättle" after a photo. Today there are approx. 500 devils and 80 Spaettle. The union prescribes the number of the Spättle.
     
The traditional masks of the town:
The Devil:
Each mask is hand carved of wood. The face is copper red, the horns, hair and chin beard are black. The mouth smiles and you can see the radiating white teeth. It is fastened to a cap, at
which a fox tail dangles. The garb is red with black braids. In addition comes a black ruff and two heavy leather belts with 11 bronze bells each. In the hand each devil carries a whip.
   
The Spaettlehansele:
The mask of the Spättle is smooth and has the color beige with red cheeks. On the trousers and jacket of the overall are approx. 1500 textile rags sewn on. Each rag must be sewn with accurately 0.8 mm yarn. A Spättle has to be requested at the fool guild. Afterwards the owners have 2 years time for sewing. At least they have a white ruff and a large shears of wood.
   
The Federeschnabel:
The mask of this bird is not like the others from wood, but made of sheet metal. It shows a head of a bird with bird of prey bill. This costume is very old; it was already described in books in the late Middle Ages. The garb consists of only one suit, which is filled allover with artificial feathers in the colors red, blue and yellow.
   
The Red Fox:
In the beginning of the carnival the fox had a smooth larva. In the year 1952 Merz carved the current fox face. The suit is red, which is occupied with real fox skins. It carries the same whip as the devil
     
The "Närrischen" days, one week party!
As for the most fool guilds in the Black Forest carnival begins exactly one week before "Aschermittwoch" (wednesday). Children meet on Wednesday to search for the carnival doll. This is brought to the market place and hung up by the fool guild. The mayor is referred its office and the fool guild takes over for one week the government of the city.

The "Schmutzige Dunschdig" (Thursday) is in Triberg the most eventful day. In the morning the pupils were released from school by the fool guild. In the afternoon at 2 o'clock the child parade begins, several groups walk through the city. As soon as it is dark the traditional devils parade starts. Only the original masks are involved, everyone carries a torch. The street lamps are switched off and at the roadside stand red torches.

The devils parade through
the brightly lit the streets -

a spooky spectacle!!!

Afterwards there is party in the whole city and all the devils are in town hall.
After a prohibition of Pope Benedict 14th the city stays quiet on Friday. The relaxation earned each fool rightfully
On Saturday the "Stadtmusik (chapel of the town)" has a carnival ball with program.

Sunday tomorrow at 6 o'clock the "Radautrommler" wake up the population of the city. They are not very quiet with their big sheet metal drums!! But if you live a little bit outside of the city you remain exempted from it…
In the afternoon at 2 o'clock begins the Large Parade with different groups, with usually beautiful sewn costumes. At the end of the parade the original masks of the city walk. They try to put the public into the devil car. Some people become fearful when a devil comes running towards him; however everybody just get colored black and get a small present. Is thus not further bad! In the evening again party is in the whole city.

Monday evening takes place the price mask ball of the fool guild in the town hall. The most beautiful costumes are demonstrated and award a price afterwards.
A fashion show of the other type!!
Tuesday afternoon is then already again everything past, about what the fools are extremely sad. A torch parade leads to the market-place on which the carnival doll with loud shouting gets burned. The Narrenrat and the Radautrommler are dressed in white nightgowns. The chapel of the town plays a last mark the fool march, the song of which each fool was accompanied one week long. The only one who is happy about this procedure is the mayor, because he can return to his office again. See these sad fools around the fire and you probably will have tears in your eyes...
On ash-wednesday everybody wears for the "funeral" black clothes and in the evening they eat traditional herring. Everyone waits already for carnival next year, " it constantly goes against it ".
Come and enjoy carnival in the Black Forest.
It is worthwhile itself in any case!!!